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EDITED    PROM    MANUSCRIPT   JULIUS   E.  VII    IN   THE    COTTONIAN 

COLLECTION,    WITH    VARIOUS    READINGS    FROM 

OTHER    MANUSCRIPTS, 

BY  THE 

EEV.   WALTER   W.   SKEAT,   M.A. 

Elrington  arid  Bosworth  Professor  of  Anglo-Saxon  in  the  University  of  Cambridge, 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED    FOR    THE    EARLY    ENGLISH    TEXT    SOCIETY, 

BY  N.  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  57  AND  59  LUDGATE  HILL. 

MDCCCIXXXI. 


PR 


76. 
OXFORD: 

BY    K.    PICKAKD     HALL,    M.A.,    AND    J.    H.    STACY, 
PRTNTEKS   TO   THE   UNIVERSITY. 


PEELIMINAEY    NOTICE. 


^LFRic's  Lives  of  Saints,  now  for  the  first  time  printed,  may 
practically  be  regarded  as  forming  a  '  third  series '  of  -^Ifric's 
Homilies.  The  first  series  was  printed  for  the  -^Ifric  Society 
in  1844,  with  the  title — 'The  Homilies  of  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Church.  The  First  Part^  containing  the  Sermones  Catholici, 
or  Homilies  of  iElfric,  in  the  original  Anglo-Saxon,  with  an 
English  Version.  Vol.  I.  By  Benjamin  Thorpe,  F.S.A.'  The 
second  series  was  printed  for  the  same  society  in  1846,  with 
precisely  the  same  title,  excepting  only  the  substitution  of 
'Vol.  II.'  for  'Vol.  I.' 

The  use  of  the  phrase  '  The  First  Part '  in  the  above  title  is 
remarkable,  since  we  are  not  told  what  the  '  Second  Part '  was 
to  be,  nor  did  any  '  Second  Part '  ever  appear.  However,  in  the 
list  of  -^Ifric's  works  given  in  the  Preface  to  vol.  i.,  there  is 
mention  of  'A  Collection  of  Homilies  on  the  Saints'  days  ob- 
served by  the  Anglo-Saxon  Church.'  It  would  therefore  seem 
as  if  Mr.  Thorpe  had  at  one  time  the  intention  of  publishing 
a  second  part,  which  most  likely  would  have  contained  the 
Lives  which  I  have  now  undertaken  to  edit  for  the  Early 
English  Text  Society. 

Instead  of  ^second  part,'  I  employ  the  term  'third  series,' 
because   it  better  describes  the  exact  state  of  the  case.     Mr. 


VI  PRELIMINARY   NOTICE. 

Thorpe's  first  volume  g-ives  us  a  '  first  series/  extending  over 
nearly  a  whole  year,  from  Christmas  to  the  second  Sunday  in 
Advent,  His  second  volume  gives  us  a  'second  series/  again 
commencing  at  Christmas,  and  coming  down  to  the  Deposition 
of  St.  Martin  (Nov.  ii);  followed  by  a  few  occasional  homilies 
and  some  prayers.  This  enables  us  at  once  to  understand 
vElfric's  allusion  to  his  'two  former  books'  in  his  own  preface 
to  the  present  work ;  see  page  3,  1.  7.  In  like  manner,  the 
Lives  of  Saints  are  arranged  nearly  in  the  order  of  the  calendar, 
and  present  us  with  a  '  third  series ' ;  though  they  were  doubtless 
intended  to  constitute  an  independent  work^  and  are  written,  on 
the  whole,  in  a  more  poetical  and  less  didactic  style. 

There  is  only  one  good  MS.  which  could  be  taken  as  the 
foundation  for  the  text,  to  which  I  have,  accordingly,  adhered 
throughout.  This  is  the  MS.  marked  Julius  E,  vii,  in  the 
Cottonian  collection  in  the  British  Museum.  But  I  have 
taken  the  opportunity  of  collating  other  MSS.,  wherever 
any  other  copies  of  the  Lives  exist,  giving  all  the  various 
readings  in  foot-notes,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  late 
spellings  that  are,  comparatively,  of  no  value.  The  number  of 
copies  of  each  Life  is  given  at  the  head  of  each,  with  an 
explanation  of  the  symbols  denoting  the  MSS  ^. 

I  have  to  remark  that  MS.  O.  (Otho,  B.  x)  and  MS.  V- 
(Vitellius,  D.  xvii)  are  both  very  much  injured  by  fire,  many 
leaves  being  lost  and  destroyed.  By  help  of  the  printed  text, 
I  have  been  enabled  to  give  several  good  readings  from  them 
in  passages  which,  without  such  assistance,  are  hardly  legible. 
Many  of  the  Lives  are  written  in  a  loose   sort  of  alliterative 

^  Tables  exhibiting  all  the  copies  of  all  of  j^Elfric's  Homilies  are  printed  in  the 
Seventh  Report  of  the  E.  E.  T.  S.  for  1871.  In  the  table  of  Homilies  in  MS.  Julius, 
E.  vii.,  the  first  homily  is  marked  as  being  'unique.'  But  it  appears  that  this  is 
not  exactly  the  case,  since  the  homily  in  MS.  Bodley  343,  no.  Ixxv,  fol.  155  (Wanley, 
p.  24),  though  beginning  with  different  words,  is  practically  the  same  thing.  It 
is,  however,  a  %'ery  late  and  inferior  copy,  from  the  various  readings  in  which  little 
is  to  be  gathered.  Yet  I  was  glad  to  see  that  it  contains  the  word  idle,  which,  at 
p.  20,  1.  1 70,  I  had  inserted,  by  conjecture,  to  complete  the  sense. 


PRELIMINARY   NOTICE,  Vll 

verse ;  and,  as  the  scribe,  in  general,  has  taken  pains  to  mark 
off  the  lines  by  the  insertion  of  points,  I  have  printed  them 
accordingly.  The  attempt  to  introduce  alliteration  has  affected 
the  style,  and  it  is  worth  while  to  point  this  out  by  a  different 
mode  of  printing.  Those  who  prefer  to  consider  the  text 
as  being  all  equally  in  prose  can  do  so,  by  disregarding  the 
division  into  lines.  JEn  the  first  homily  (for  such  it  is),  there  is 
no  attempt  at  verse  of  any  kind ;  but  in  most  of  the  narratives 
some  attempt  at  embellishment  is  very  evident. 

The  text  is  printed  precisely  as  it  stands  in  the  MS.,  unless  in 
any  case  express  notice  to  the  contrary  is  given.  This  remark 
applies  particularly  to  the  accents  and  the  punctuation.  The 
very  few  contractions  are  expanded  in  the  usual  manner,  the 
expansions  being  denoted  by  the  use  of  italic  letters.  The  sole 
exception  to  this  rule  is  that  the  word  '  and '  is  printed  in  roman 
type,  though  in  the  MS.  it  is  always  denoted  by  the  usual 
symbol.  Moreover,  Latin  quotations  are  printed  in  italics  for 
the  sake  of  distinctness,  though  written,  in  the  MS.,  in  the  same 
characters  as  the  rest  of  the  text. 

The  modem  English  version  of  the  Homilies,  though  revised 
by  myself,  is  almost  entirely  the  work  of  Miss  Gunning,  of 
Cambridge,  and  Miss  Wilkinson,  formerly  of  Dorking,  who 
with  great  perseverance  have  translated  not  only  most  of  the 
text  as  contained  in  this  first  part,  but  nearly  all  of  the  re- 
maining Lives  belonging  to  the  same  series  ^  For  their  kind 
and  valuable  assistance  I  am  very  grateful,  as  it  has  enabled 
me  to  proceed  with  the  work  in  the  midst  of  many  other 
engagements. 

'  For  the  translations  of  the  Lives  of  St.  Eugenia,  St.  Julian,  St.  Lucy,  and 
some  others  (as  elsewhere  noted),  I  am  wholly  responsible. 


CLERIC'S  HOMILIES. 

THIRD  SERIES. 


^LFRIC'S  HOMILIES, 

[Cotton  MS.  Julius  E.  VII,  leaf  i.] 


INCIPIT  PRAEFATIO  HUIUS  LIBRI. 

XT  UNO    QU0Qf7£  CODICEM  TEANSTULIMUS    DE  LATINITATE   AD   Usi- 

-'-■'-     tatam*  Anglicam  sermocinationem,  studentes   aliis   prodesse 
edificando  ad  fidem  lectione  huius  narrationis  qmhns-cxxmque  pla- 
cuerit  huic  operi  operam  dare,  siue  legendo,  seu  Audiendo ;  qwia  4 
estimo  non  esse  ingratum  fidelibus.     Nam  memini  me  in  inohus 
anterioribus  libris  posuisse  passiones  iiel  uitas  Banctorum  ipsoruw, 
quos  gens  ista  caelebre  colit  cum  ueneratione  festi  diei,  et  placuit 
nobis  in  isto  codicello  ordinare  passiones  eti&m  uel  uitas  sanctomm  8 
illorum  quos  non  uulgus  sed  coenobite   officiis  uenerantur.     Nee 
tamen  plura  promitto  me  scripturum  hac  lingua,  qwia  nee  conuenit 
huic   sermocinationi  plura   inseri;    ne  forte   despectui   habeantur 
margarite  christ'i.     Ideoqwe  redcemus    de   libro  uitse^  patrum,  in  12 
qwo  multa  subtilia   habentur  quae  non  conueniunt  aperiri  laicis, 
nee  nos  ipsi  ea  quimus  implere.     Ilia   uero   que   scripturus   sum 
suspicor  non  offendere  audientes,  sed  magis  fide  torpentes  recreare 
hortationibus,    qwia    martyrum    passiones   nimium   fidem   erigant  16 
languentem.     Unum   cupio   sciri   hoc   uolumen   legentibus,    quod 
nollem  alicubi  ponere  duos  imperatores  siue  cesares  in  hac  narra- 

*  MS.  usitatew.  *  MS.  uita. 


^LFEIC'S  HOMILIES. 


HERE  BEGINNETH  THE  PREFACE  TO  THIS  BOOK. 

This  book  also  have  I  translated  from  the  Latin  into  the  usual 
English  speech,  desiring  to  profit  others  by  edifying  them  in  the 
faith  whenever  they  read  this  relation,  as  many,  namely,  as  are 
pleased  to  study  this  work,  either  by  reading  or  hearing  it  read ; 
for  I  think  it  is  not  displeasing  to  the  faithful.  For  I  call  to  mind 
that,  in  two  former  books,  I  have  set  forth  the  Passions  or  Lives 
of  those  saints  whom  that  illustrious  nation  celebrates  by  honour- 
ing their  festival,  and  it  has  [now]  pleased  me  to  set  forth,  in 
this  book,  the  Passions  as  well  as  the  Lives  of  those  saints 
whom  not  the  vulgar,  but  the  monks,  honour  by  special  services. 
I  do  not  promise,  however,  to  write  very  many  in  this  tongue, 
because  it  is  not  fitting  that  many  should  be  translated  into  our 
language,  lest  peradventure  the  pearls  of  Christ  be  had  in  dis- 
respect. And  therefore  I  hold  my  peace  as  to  the  book  called 
Vitce  Patrum,  wherein  are  contained  many  subtle  points  which 
ought  not  to  be  laid  open  to  the  laity,  nor  indeed  are  we  ourselves 
quite  able  to  fathom  them.  But  I  think  that  those  things  which 
I  am  now  going  to  write  will  not  at  all  offend  the  hearers,  but 
will  rather  refresh  by  their  exhortations  such  as  are  slothful  in 
the  faith,  since  the  Passions  of  the  Martyrs  greatly  revive  a  fail- 
ing faith.  I  desire  that  one  point  should  be  especially  noted  by 
them  that  read  this  book,  viz.  that  I  do  not  like  in  any  passage 
to  speak  of  two  emperors  or  Csesars  in  the  story  at  the  same  time, 

1-a 


4  PRAEFATIO. 

tione  simul,  sicut  in  latinitate   legimus;    sed  unum  imperatorem 
in  persecutione  martyrum  ponimus  ubiqwe;  Sicut  gens  nostra  uni  20 
regi  subditur,  et  usitata  est  de  uno   rege  non  de  duobws  loqui. 
Nee  potuimws  in  ista  translatione  semper  uerbuw  ex  uerbo  trans- 
ferre,  sed  tamen  sensum  ex  sensu,  sicut  inuenimws  in  sanctsi  scrip- 
tura,  diligenter   curauimMs   uertere   Simplici  et  aperta   locutione  24 
quatinus  proficiat  Audientibus.     Hoc  sciendum  etiam  qwod   pro- 
lixiores  passiones  breuiamws  uerbis,  non  adeo  sensu,  ne  fastidiosis 
ingeratur  tedium  si  tanta  prolixitas  erit  in  propria  lingua  quanta 
est  in   latina ;    et   non    semper  breuitas  sermonem    deturpat  sed  28 
multotiens  honestiorem  reddit.     Non  mih\  inpute^ur  qwod  diuinam 
scripturam  ^nos^rae  Hngue  infero,  quia  argued  me  praecatus  mul- 
iovwni  fidelium  et  maxime  sejselwerdi  ducis  et  ae'Selmeri  nostvi,  qwi 
ardentissime  nostras  interpre^ationes  Amplectuntur  lectitando ;  sed  32 
decreui  modo  quiescere  post  quartuw  librum  A  tali  studio,  ne  super- 
fluus  iudicer. 


TT?  LFRIC     GRET     EADMODLICE    ^DELWEED   EALDOEMAN    and    ic 

secge  Jje  leof  .  ^pcet  ic  hsebbe  nu  gegaderod  on  Jjyssere  b6c  36 
J58era  lialgena  Jjrowunga  Jje  me  to  onhagode  on  englisc  to  awen- 
dene  .  for  Jjan  jje  tSu  leof  swi?5ost  and  setSelmaer  swylcera  gewrita 
me  bsedon  .  and  of  handum  gelsehton  eowerne  geleafan  to  getrym- 
menne  .  mid  ]3aere  gerecednysse  .  ]?e  ge  on  eowrum  gereorde  nsefdon  40 
se'r,     pu  wast  leof  J)cet  we  awendon  on  ]5am  twam  serrum  bocum 
]?8era  halgena  Jjrowunga  and  lif  .  J?e  angel-cynn  mid  freols-dagum 
wur]5atS.     Nu  ge-weartS  us  \)cet  we  ]?as  boc  be  ]5sera  halgena  tSrow- 
ungum  and  life  .  gedihton  Jse  mynster-menn  mid  heora  Jsenunguw  44 
betwux  him  wurtJiaS. 

Ne  secge  we  ndn  j^incg  niwes  on  j^issere  gesetnysse  . 
forJ?an  tSe  hit  stod  gefyru  awriten 

on  ledenbocum  Jseah  \)Q  j^a  Isewedan  men  ^p(xt  nyston  .  ^g 

'  leaf  I,  back. 


PREFACE.  3 

as  we  read  of  in  the  Latin ;  but  I  everywhere  speak  of  one  em- 
peror as  being  concerned  in  the  persecution  of  the  martyrs ;  just 
as  our  own  nation  is  subject  to  one  king,  and  is  accustomed  to 
speak  of  one  king,  and  not  of  two.  Nor  am  I  able,  in  this 
translation,  to  render  everything  word  for  word,  but  I  have  at 
any  rate  carefully  endeavoured  to  give  exact  sense  for  sense,  just 
as  I  find  it  in  the  holy  writing,  by  means  of  such  simple  and  obvious 
language  as  may  profit  them  that  hear  it.  It  is  to  be  further  noted 
that  I  abridge  the  longer  narratives  of  the  Passions,  not  as  regards 
the  sense  but  in  the  language,  in  order  that  no  tediousnegs  may  be 
inflicted  on  the  fastidious,  as  might  be  the  case  if  as  much  prolixity 
were  used  in  our  own  language  as  occurs  in  the  Latin ;  and  we  know 
that  brevity  does  not  always  deprave  speech  but  oftentimes  makes 
it  more  charming.  Let  it  not  be  considered  as  a  fault  in  me  that  I 
turn  sacred  narrative  into  our  own  tongue,  since  the  request  of  many 
of  the  faithful  shall  clear  me  in  this  matter,  particularly  that  of  the 
governor  .^thelwerd,  and  of  my  friend  ^thelmer,  who  most  highly 
honour  my  translations  by  their  perusal  of  them ;  nevertheless  I 
have  resolved  at  last  to  desist  from  such  labour  after  completing 
the  fourth  book,  that  I  may  not  be  regarded  as  too  tedious. 


vElfric  humbly  greeteth  alderman  ^Ethelwerd,  and  I  tell  thee, 
beloved,  that  I  have  now  collected  in  this  book  such  Passions  of 
the  Saints  as  I  have  had  leisure  to  translate  into  English,  because 
that  thou,  beloved,  and  -^thelmser  earnestly  prayed  me  for  such 
writings,  and  received  them  at  my  hands  for  the  confirmation  of 
your  faith  by  means  of  this  history,  which  ye  never  had  in  your 
language  before.  Thou  knowest,  beloved,  that  we  translated  in 
the  two  former  books  the  Passions  and  Lives  of  the  saints  which 
the  English  nation  honoureth  with  festivals  ;  now  it  has  seemed 
good  to  us  that  we  should  write  this  book  concerning  the  suffer- 
ings and  lives  of  the  Saints  whom  monks  in  their  offices  honour 
amongst  themselves. 

We  say  nothing  new  in  this  book, 

because  it  has  stood  written  down  long  since 

in  Latin  books,  though  lay-men  knew  it  not. 


6  PRAEFATIO. 

Nelle  we  eac  mid  leasungum  J^yllic  liccetan  . 

for]?an  jje  geleaffulle  faederas  and  halige  lareowas 

hit  awriton  on  leden-sprgece  .  to  langum  gemynde  . 

and  to  trymmincge  J^am  towerdum  mannum  .  52 

Sum  witega  clypode  ]7urh  J^one  halgan  gast  and  cwae'S  .  Mirabilis 
dews  in  Sanctis  suis  .  et  cet.     Wundorlic  is  god  on  his  halgum . 
he  sylf  forgifS  mihte  and  strengtSe  his  folce  .  gebletsod  is  h6  god. 
"We  awrita'S  fela  wundra  on  Jjissere  b^c  .  forj^an  ]?e  god  is  wundor-  56 
lie  on  his  halgum  swa  swa  we  aer  ssedon  .  and  his  halgena  wundra 
wurtSiatS  hine  .  forjjan  Jje  h6  worhte  pa.  wundra  Jjurh  hi. 
An  woruld-cynincg  hsefS  fela  J?egna 

and  mislice  wicneras  .  he  ne  mgeg  beon  wur'Sful  cynincg  60 

buton  he  hsebbe  Jja  gejp'mcSe  pe  him  gebyriatS  . 
and  swylce  ]?ening-men  .  j^e  Jjeawfsestnysse  him  gebeodon. 
Swa  is  eac  j^am  ^  selmihtigan  gode  pe  ealle  Jjincg  gesceop  . 
him  geristS  pcet  he  hsebbe  halige  J^enas  64 

pe  his  willan  gefyllatS  .  and  Jjaera  is  fela 
on  mannum  anum  pe  he  of  middan-earde  geceas  . 
pcet  nan  bocere  ne  mseg  ]3eah  he  mycel  cunne  . 
heora  naman  awriten  .  forjjan  pe  hi  nat  nan  man  .  68 

Hi  synd  ungeryme  swa  swa  hit  geristS  gode  . 
ac  we  woldon  gesettan  be  sumum  Jjas  boc  . 
mannum  to  getrymminge  .  and  to  munde  us  sylfum  . 
pcet  hi  us  Jjingion  to  |3am  selmihtigan  gode  .  72 

swa  swa  we  on  worulde  heora  wundra  cy'SaS  . 
Ic   bidde  nu  on  godes  naman  gif  hwa  }3as  boo  awritan  wille  . 
pcet  he  hi  w6i  gerihte  be  jjsere  bysne  .  and  Jjser  namare  betwux 
ne  sette  J)onne  we  awendon  .  76 

Uale  in  DomiNO  . 

^  leaf  2. 


PREFACE.  7 

Neither  will  we  feign  such  things  by  means  of  falsehoods, 
because  devout  fathers  and  holy  doctors 
wrote  it  in  the  Latin  tongue,  for  a  lasting  memorial, 
and  to  confirm  the  faith  of  future  generations. 

A  certain  prophet  cried  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  said  *  Mirahilia 
Deus  in  Sanctis  suis,'  et  cetera  :    '  wonderful  is  God  in  His  Saints ; 
He  shall  give  power  and  strength  unto  His  people ;  blessed  is  God.' 
"We   shall   describe  many  wonders  in  this  book,  because  God  is 
wonderful  in  His  Saints,  as  we  said  before,  and  the  miracles  of  His 
Saints  glorify  Him,  because  He  wrought  them  by  their  means. 
An  earthly  king  hath  many  servants 
and  divers  stewards  ;  he  cannot  be  an  honoured  king 
unless  he  have  the  state  which  befitteth  him, 
and  as  it  were  serving-men,  to  offer  him  their  obedience. 
So  likewise  is  it  with  Almighty  God  who  created  all  things  ; 
it  befitteth  Him  that  He  should  have  holy  servants 
who  may  fulfil  His  will,  and  of  these  there  are  many 
even  amongst  mankind  whom  He  chose  out  of  the  world, 
so  that  no  scribe,  though  he  know  much, 
may  write  their  names,  because  no  man  knoweth  them. 
They  are  innumerable,  as  befitteth  God; 
but  we  desire  to  write  this  book  concerning  some  of  them, 
for  the  encouragement  of  other  men  and  for  our  own  security, 
that  they  may  intercede  for  us  with  Almighty  God, 
even  as  we  on  earth  make  known  their  miracles. 

I  pray  now  in  God's  name,  if  any  man  desire  to  transcribe  this 
book,  that  he  correct  it  well  according  to  the  copy;  and  set  down 
therein  no  more  than  we  have  translated. 

Farewell  in  the  Lord. 


O  CAPITULA. 

[leaf  2,  back.] 

INCIPIUNT  CAPITULA. 

I.    De  NATIUITATE  CHRISTl. 

II.  De  Sawc^a  Eagenia. 
m.  De  Sancio  Basilio. 
mi.  De  Sanc^o  luliano  et  basilissa. 
V.  De  Sancto  Sebastiano. 
VI.  De  Sancto  Mauro. 
VII.  De  ^anctSL  Agnete. 
VIII.  De  Sawc^a  Agatha. 
[IX.]  Et  Bancta  lucia  ^. 
Vim.  [X.]  De  Cathedra  %ancti  petri. 
X.  [XI.J  De  xl.  militibus. 
XI.  [XII.]  De  capite  leiunii. 

XII.  [XIII.]  De  Oratione  moysi. 

XIII.  [XIV.]  De  Sawcfo  Georgio. 
Xmi.  [XV.]  De  ^ancto  Marco  euangelista. 

XV.  [XVI.]  De  Memoria  sawc^orum. 
XVI.  [XVII.]  De  Auguriis. 
XVII.  [XVIII.]  De  libro  regum. 

XIX  ^.  De  Bancto  Albauo. 

XX.  De  ^ancto  setJeldrytSa. 
XXI.  De  Sawcto  swytSuno. 
XXII.  De  ^ancto  Appollonare. 
XXIII.  De  Vn.tem  Dormientium  {sic). 
XXmi.  De  Abdone  et  senne. 

XXV.  De  Machabeis. 
XXVI.  De  ^ancto  Oswoldo. 
XXVII.  De  Sawcia  cruce. 
XXVIII.  De  Legione  thebeorum. 
XXIX.  De  Sancto  Dionisio. 

'  These  two,  St.  Agatha  and  St.  Lucy,  are  counted  as  one,  which  throws 
out  the  numbering  as  far  as  Chapter  XVIII. 

'  Here  a  number  is  missed,  but  it  brings  the  numbering  right  again. 


CHAPTERS. 


HERE  BEGIN  THE  CHAPTERS. 

I.  Of  the  Nativity  of  Christ.  (Dec.  25). 

II.  Of  Saint  Eugenia.  (Dec.  25). 
m.  Of  Saint  Basil.  (Jan.  i). 
IV.  Of  Saint  Julian  and  Basilissa.  (Jan.  9;  called  Jan.  13). 

V.  Of  Saint  Sebastian.  (Jan.  20). 
VI.  Of  Saint  Maurus.  (Jan.  1 5). 
Vn.  Of  Saint  Agnes.  (Jan.  21). 
VIII.  Of  Saint  Agatha ;  (Feb.  5). 
IX.  and  Saint  Lucy.  (Dec.  13). 

X.  Of  the  chair  of  Saint  Peter.  (Feb.  22). 
XI.  Of  the  Forty  Soldiers.  (Mar.  9). 
Xn.  Of  the  beginning  of  the  Fast.  (Ash  Wednesday). 

XIII.  Of  the  Prayer  of  Moses. 

XIV.  Of  Saint  George.  (Apr.  23). 

XV.  Of  Saint  Mark  the  Evangelist.  (Apr.  25). 
XVI.  Of  the  memory  of  the  Saints. 
XVn.  Of  Auguries. 
XVIII.  Of  the.  Book  of  Kings. 
XIX.  Of  Saint  Alban.  (June  22). 
XX.  Of  Saint  iESeldryt5a.   (June  23). 
•^  XXI.  Of  Saint  Swythun.  (July  2). 
XXII.  Of  Saint  Apollinaris.  (July  23). 
XXin.  Of  the  geven  Sleepers.  (July  27). 
XXIV.  Of  Abdon  and  Sennes.  (July  30). 
XXV.  Of  the  Machabees.  (Aug.  i). 
XXVI.  Of  Saint  Oswold.  (Aug.  5). 
XXVII.  Of  the  Holy  Cross.  (Sep.  14). 
XXVIII.  Of  the  Theban  Legion.  (Sep.  22). 
XXIX.  Of  Saint  Dionysius  (Denis ;  Oct.  9). 


10  I.    NATIVITAS   DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

XXX.  De  Sancto  Eustachio. 

XXXI.  De  Sancto  Martino. 

XXXn.  De  Sancto  Eadmundo. 

XXXm.  De  BanctB,  eufrosia  {sic). 

XXXim.  De  ^ancta  csecilia. 

XXXV.  De  Crisanto  et  daria. 

XXXVI.  De  Sancto  Tnoma  Apostolo. 

XXXVII.  De  Interrogationibws  sigewulfi  i^reshytev[i]. 

XXXVIII.  De  Falsis  diis. 

XXXVIIII.  De  xii.  Abusiuis. 


I. 


[leaf  3,  back.    There  seems  to  be  no  other  copy  of  this  Homily,] 

UIII  KALENDAS  lAliiUARIL     NATIUITAS  DOif/NI 
NOaSTRI  I^^STJ  CHRISTI. 

MEN  DA  LEOEESTAN  HWILON  MR  WE  S^DON  EOW  HU  URE  hselend 
crist  on  j^isum  dsege  on  so'Sre  menniscnysse  acenned  waes  of 
]38em  halgan  maedene  marian.     Nu  wylle  we  swa  J)eah  for  Syses 
daeges  mser'Se  eower  mod  mid  Jjsere  gastlican  lare  onbryrdan  eow  to  4 
blisse  ]?urli  god  ^.     Sume  gedwol-menn  weeron  J?uruli  deoful  beswic- 
ane  swa  ])cet  hi  cwsedon  jjaet  crist  godes  sunu  nsere  sefre  mid  |?am 
halgan  feeder  wuniende  .  dc  wsere  sum  tima .  ser  jpan  J)e  he  acenned 
waere  .  ac  \>oet  halige  godsp611  hsefS  oferswi(5od  swylcera  gedwolena  8 
andgit  for-oft.     pa  iudeiscan   axodon  crist  hwset  he  waere.     Da 
andwyrde   he   him   Jjus.      Ego   sum   principium  .  qui   et   loquor 
uobis.     Ic  eom  anginn  .  ]5e  eow  to  sprgece.     Nu  ge  habbatS  gehered 
hu  se  h'selend  be  him  sylfum  sprsec  .  \)aet  h6  is  ordfruma  .  and  angin  12 
ealra  J^inga .  mid  his  heofonlican  feeder  .  and  mid  ]3am  halgan  gaste. 
Se  feeder  is  dngin  .  and  se  sunu  is  angin  .  and  se  halga  gdst  is  angin . 
dc  hi  ne  synd  na  ]5reo  anginnu  .  dc  hi  ealle  ^pry  synden  dn  angin . 

^  Probably  an  error  for  god. 


I.    THE    NATIVITY    OF    OUR    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.  11 

XXX.  Of  Saint  Eustace.  (Nov.  2). 
XXXI.  Of  Saint  Martin..  (Nov.  11). 
-^  XXXII.  Of  Saint  Edmund.  (Nov.  20). 

XXXIII.  Of  Saint  Euphrasia.  (Feb.  11). 

XXXIV.  Of  Saint  Cecilia.  (Nov.  22). 
XXXY.  Of  Crisantus  and  Daria.  (Dec.  i). 

XXXYI.  Of  Saint  Tliomas  the  Apostle.  (Dec.  21). 
XXXVII.  Of  the  Questions  of  Sigewulf  the  Priest. 
XXXVIII.  Of  False  Gods. 
XXXIX.  Of  the  Twelve  Abuses. 


I. 


DECEMBER  25.    THE  NATIVITY  OF  OITR 
LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Men  beloved,  we  told  you  erewhile  how  our  Saviour  Christ 
was  on  this  day  born  in  true  human  nature  of  the  holy  Virgin 
Mary.  Nevertheless,  we  now  desire,  for  the  honour  of  this  day, 
to  stir  up  your  minds  by  ghostly  teaching  for  your  happiness,  by  the 
grace  of  God.  There  were  certain  heretics  beguiled  by  the  devil,  so 
that  they  said  that  Christ  the  Son  of  God  was  not  eternally  dwelling 
with  the  Holy  Father,  but  there  was  a  certain  time  (period)  before 
He  was  born ;  but  the  holy  Gospel  hath  full  oft  surpassed  the  un- 
derstanding of  such  heretics.  The  Jews  asked  Christ  who  He  was ; 
then  answered  He  them  thus  :  Ego  sum  jyrincijnum  qui  et  loquor 
vobis :  '  I  who  speak  unto  you  am  the  beginning.'  Now  have  ye 
heard  how  Jesus  spake  of  Himself,  that  He  is  the  Originator  and 
Beginning  of  all  things,  together  with  His  Heavenly  Father  and  with 
the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Father  is  the  Beginning,  and  the  Son  is 
the  Beginning,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  Beginning;  they  are 
not  three  Beginnings,  but  they  all  three  are  one  Beginning,  and  One 


13  I.    NATI VITAS    DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

and  dn  selmihtig  god  sefre  unbegunnen  .  and  ungesendod  .  ac  se  man  16 
w6t  *  Jie  wyle  habban  senig  ]?incg  aer  anginne  .  forj^an  Se  seo  halige 
Jjrynnes  .  is  anginn .  and  in  scyppend  ealra  gesceafta  and  nan  ]?ing 
nses  ne  nys  wuniende  Jje  se  an  wyrhta  ne  gesceope;  Gif  hwylc  gedwola. 
0(5(Se  awoffod  man  .  wyle  furtSor  smeagen  and  peet  anginn  oferstigan  .  20 
mid  dysilicere  dyrstignesse  .  }5onne  bitS  he  j^am  men  gelic  pe  arser]? 
sume  heage  hlseddre  .  and  stihS  be  |p8ere  hlaeddre  stapum  .  d^pcet  he  to 
tSsem  sende  becume  .  and  wylle  ]3onne  git  stigan  ufor  .  astihtS  j^onne  bu- 
ton  stapum .  otS  pcet  he  stedeleas  fylj?  mid  mycclum  wyrsan  fylle  swa  24 
he  furtSor  stdh.   Dreo  ping  synd  on  middanearde .  An  is  hwilwend-lic  . 
Jje  hsefS  segSer  ge  ordfrumman  ge  ende  .  j^set  synd  nytenu  .  and 
ealle  sawul-lease  J)ing  pe  on-gunnan  ]?a  pa.  hi  god  gesceop  .  and  seft 
gesendiatS  and  to  nahte  ^gewur'SaJ?.     OtSer  ]?ing  is  6ce  .  swa  pcet  hit  28 
hsefS  ordfruman  .  and  nsefS  nenne  ende .  poet  synd  senglas  and  manna 
saula  .  pe  ongunnen  (5a  pa  hi  god  gesceop  .  Ac  hi  ne  ge-endiatS  nsefre. 
Dridde  p'mg  is  ece  .  swA  pcet  hit  neefS  naSor  ne  ordfruman  ne  ende . 
pcet  is  se  Ana  selmihtiga  god  on  j^rynnesse  .  and  on  annysse  .  sefre  32 
wuniende  un-asmeagendlic  .  and  un-assecgeudlic.    Se  feeder  is  angin  . 
of  nanum  otSrum .  and  se  sunu  is  angin .  sefre  of  ]?am  fseder  acenned . 
and  se  halga  gast  is  angin .  sefre  of  pava.  fseder .  and  of  J>am  sunu  .  na 
acenned  Ac  fortS-stseppende  fortSan  pe  se  sunu  is  Jiaes  fseder  wisdom  .  36 
of  him  .  and  mid  him  .  and  se  halga  gast  is  heora  begra  wylle  .  and 
lufu  .  of  him  bam  .  and  mid  him  bam.  On  tSisne  enne  god  w6  sceolon 
geleafan  .  and  hine   mid    weorcum  wurtSian  .  fortJan  .  pe   ealle   J)a 
halgan  bee  segSer  ge  on  jjsere  ealdan .  se  .  ge  on  J^sere  niwan  so(51ice  40 
sprecatS  be  fiere  halgan  tSrynnysse  .  and  sotSre  annysse.   pses  an  scyp- 
pend wAt  ealle  ]?ing  .  and  gesihtS  ge  pcet  gedon  is  .  ge  pcet  pe  nu  is  . 
ge  pcet  Se  to-weard  is  .  ne  he  nAn  fjing  ne  for-git  .  ne  him  nan  ping 
setfleon  ne  mseg.     Ne  6n-dret  he  him  nanes  }?inges .  fort5an  pe  he  44 
nsefS  nenne  riccran  .  ne  furtSon  nanne  him  gelicne.     Symble  he  bitS 
gyfende .  and  he  ne  wanatS  swa-}>seh  nan  )?ing  his  .  ne  him  nanes 
Jjinges  nis  neod-jjearf.     Symble  he  bitS  selmihtig  god  .  fortSan  tSe  he 

^  MS.  WEet,  alt.  to  wfCt ;  read  w6t ;  not  wfCt  (knows).  *  leaf  4. 


I.    THE   NATIVITY   OF   OUR   LORD   JESUS   CHRIST.  13 

Almighty  God,  ever  unbegun  and  unended.  But  the  man  is  mad 
who  wishes  to  have  anything  before  a  beginning;  because  the 
Holy  Trinity  is  the  Beginning  and  the  One  Creator  of  all  creatures, 
and  there  never  was  nor  now  exists  anything  that  the  One  Worker 
hath  not  created.  If  any  heretic  or  frenzied  man  seek  to 
enquire  further  and  go  beyond  the  beginning  with  foolish  pre- 
sumption, he  is  like  unto  a  man  who  reareth  a  high  ladder,  and 
climbeth  by  the  steps  of  the  ladder  until  he  be  come  to  the  end ; 
and  then,  desiring  to  climb  yet  higher,  he  climbeth  without  the 
steps  until  that,  having  no  standing-place,  he  falleth  with  so  much 
the  worse  a  fall  as  he  further  clomb. 

There  are  three  things  on  this  earth :  one  is  transitory,  which 
hath  both  beginning  and  end;  such  are  beasts  and  all  soulless 
things  which  began  when  God  created  them,  and  afterward  come 
to  an  end  and  turn  to  nothing.  The  second  thing  is  eternal, 
so  that  it  hath  a  beginning  and  hath  no  end  ;  such  are  angels 
and  souls  of  men,  which  began  when  God  created  them,  but  they 
never  end.  The  third  thing  is  eternal,  so  that  it  hath  neither 
beginning  nor  end ;  such  is  the  One  Almighty  God  in  Trinity 
and  Unity,  who  continueth  ever  unsearchable  and  unspeakable. 
The  Father  is  the  Beginning,  of  none  other;  and  the  Son  is 
the  Beginning,  eternally  begotten  of  the  Father;  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  the  Beginning,  eternally  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son,  not 
begotten,  but  proceeding ;  because  the  Son  is  the  Father's  "Wisdom, 
of  Him  and  with  Him  ;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  Will  and  the  Love 
of  Them  both,  of  Them  both  and  with  Them  both.  In  this  One  God 
we  must  believe,  and  honour  Him  with  our  works,  because  all  the 
holy  books,  both  in  the  Old  Law  and  in  the  New,  speak  indeed 
concerning  the  Holy  Trinity  and  Very  Unity.  This  One  Creator 
knoweth  all  things,  and  seeth  both  that  which  hath  been,  and  that 
which  now  is,  and  that  which  is  to  come ;  neither  forgetteth  He 
anything,  nor  may  anything  escape  Him.  Neither  is  He  afraid  of 
anything,  because  He  hath  none  more  powerful  than  Himself,  nor 
even  any  equal  to  Him.  He  is  ever  bestowing,  yet  never  loseth 
any  part  of  Himself,  neither  is  anything  needful  to  Him.  He  is 
ever  Almighty  God,  because  that  He  ever  willeth  good  and  never 


14  I.    NATIVITAS    DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

symble   wyle  god  .  and   nsefre    ndn    yfel  .  dc   he   hataS   p&   yfel-  48 
wyrcendan  .  and  pa,  unriht-wisan.    Di  gesceafta  pe  ]?se3  dn  scyppend 
gesceop  synden  msenig-fealde .  and  mislices  hiwes .  and  ungelice  faratS. 
Sume  sindon  ungesewenlice  gastas  .  butan  lichoman  swd  swd  synd 
senglas  on  heofonum,     Sume  syndan  creopende  on  eortSan  .  mid  52 
eallum   lichoman  .  swd   swd   wurmas   do?S.     Sume   gacS   on   twam 
fotum  .  sume  on  feower  fotum.     Sume  fleotS  mid  fySerum  .  sume  on 
flodum   swimmat? .  and  hi  ealle  swa-]78eh  alotene  beotS   *  to  Jjsere 
eortSan  weard  .  and  J?ider  wilniatS .  oStSe  Jjses  pe  him  lyst .  o'StSe  ]?aes  56 
pe  hi  be}jurfon  .  dc  se  m4n  ana  gsecS  uprihte  .  pcet  getacnaS  .  pcet  h6 
sceall  jni  )?8encan  upp  .  Jsonne  nytSer .  j^elae's  pe  pcet  m6d  sy  neotSer. 
}?onne  se  lichoma  and  he  sceal  smeagen  embe  pcet  eece  lif  .  pe  h^  to 
gesceapen  wses  .  switSor  )5onne  embe  Jja  eorSlican  J>ing  .  swd  swd  his  60 
wsestm  him  gebicnatS.  Ealle  pka  gesceafta  habbatJ  anginn  .  and  sume 
eac  ende  sw4  swd  we  ser  cwaedon .  Ac  se  sotSa  scyppend  nseftS  ndn 
angin  .  forcSan  pe  he  is  him  sylf  angin .  na  gesceapen  .  ne  geworht . 
Se   geworhte  ealle   ping  .  and   wuna'S  .  A  .  on  secnysse.     Hine  ne  64 
mihte    ndn   j^ing   gewyrcean  .  for   tSon  pe  ndn  ]5ing  uses  ser  h6  . 
and  gif  h6   geworht   wsere   ne   wurde   h6    neefre   selmihtig   god. 
JEft   gif  hwylc   gewytleas   man  .  wenS   pcet   he    hine    sylfne   ge- 
worhte .  ]7onne  axie  w6  hti  h6  mihte  hine  sylfne  gewyrcean  gif  68 
he  3er  n^s.    He  wses  sefre  ungeworht .  and  sefre  wunatS  un-ge-endod. 
His  we  magon  wundrian  .  and  w6  ne  magon  ,  ne  ne  motan  .  nd  furtSor 
embe  J?is  smeagen .  gif  we  nellaS  us  sylfe  for-paeran  .  Seo  sunne  pe 
onliht  ealne  mid-eard  is  godes  gesceaft .  and  we  magon  understandan  72 
pcet  hyre  leoht  is  of  hyre  .  nd  heo  of  pam  leohte  .  and  seo  hsetu  gteS  of 
J?8ere  sunnan .  and  of  hire  leohte  gelice.    Swd  eac  fises  selmihtigan 
godes    sunu  is  sefre  of  ]3gem  feeder  acenned  .  BO'S  leoht  .  and  socS 
wisdom  .  and  se  halga  gast  is  sefre  of  him  bam  .  na  acenned  .  dc  76 
forSsteppende  .  and  se  sunu  dna  .  under-fseng  menniscnysse  and  on 
pisum  dege  wearS  to  menn  geboren  .  to  ]7i  pcet  h6  wolde  us  to  his 
rice  gefseccan.     Nis  nanum  menn  on  cSisum  deadlican  life  libben- 
dum  nanes  ]?inges  .  swa  mycel  neod  .  swa  him  hi]?  pcet  he  cunne  80 
]5onne  selmihtigan  god  mid  geleafan  .  and  si|3]?an  his  agene  sawle  : 
We  habbatS  eow  oft  gessed  eowerne  geleafan  ^  be  Jjsere  halgan  t5ryn- 
*  leaf  4,  back.  2  leafs. 


I.    THE   NATIVITY    OP    OUR    LORD   JESUS    CHRIST,  15 

evil,  but  hateth  the  evil-doers  and  the  unrighteous.  The  creatures 
whom  this  one  Creator  created  are  manifold,  and  of  various  form, 
and  move  diversely.  Some  are  invisible  spirits  without  body,  as 
are  the  angels  in  Heaven;  some  creep  on  the  earth  with  their 
whole  body  as  worms  do ;  some  go  on  two  feet,  some  on  four  feet, 
some  fly  with  wings,  some  swim  in  the  waters,  and  yet  all  these 
are  bowed  down  earthward,  and  thither  is  their  desire,  either 
because  it  pleaseth  them  or  because  they  needs  must ;  but  man 
alone  goeth  upright,  which  signifieth  that  his  thoughts  should  be 
more  upward  than  downward,  lest  the  mind  be  lower  than  the 
body;  and  that  he  ought  to  seek  after  the  eternal  life  for  which 
he  was  created  rather  than  after  earthly  things  ;  even  as  his  form 
showeth  him.  All  these  creatures  have  a  beginning,  and  some  also 
an  end,  as  we  before  said,  but  the  true  Creator  hath  no  beginning, 
because  He  is  Himself  the  beginning,  neither  created  nor  made. 
He  made  all  things  and  continueth  from  everlasting  to  everlasting ; 
nothing  could  make  Him,  because  nothing  was  before  Him  ;  and 
if  He  had  been  made,  then  could  He  never  have  been  Almighty 
God.  Again,  if  any  witless  man  think  that  God  made  Himself, 
we  ask  him  how  He  could  have  made  Himself  if  He  existed  not 
before  1  He  was  ever  unmade,  and  ever  continueth  unending ; 
we  may  wonder  at  Him,  but  we  may  not,  and  must  not,  enquire 
further  concerning  this,  if  we  would  not  lose  ourselves.  The 
Sim  which  lighteth  up  the  whole  earth  is  God's  creature,  and  we 
can  understand  that  her  light  is  from  herself  and  not  she  from  the 
light,  and  the  heat  proceedeth  equally  from  the  sun  and  from  her 
light.  So  likewise  the  Son  of  Almighty  God  is  eternally  begotten 
of  the  Father,  true  light  and  true  wisdom ;  and  the  Holy  Ghost 
is  eternally  of  Them  both,  not  begotten,  but  proceeding ;  and  the 
Son  alone  took  human  nature,  and  on  this  day  was  born  as  man, 
to  the  end  that  He  might  fetch  us  to  His  kingdom.  There  is 
nothing  so  needful  to  any  man  living  in  this  mortal  life  as  that 
he  should  know  the  Almighty  God  by  faith,  and  afterwards  [know] 
his  own  soul. 

"We  have  often  spoken  to  you  of  your  faith  concerning  the  Holy 
Trinity;  now  will  we,  if  we  can,  briefly  tell  you  something  about 


16  I.    NATIVITAS    DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

nysse.    Nu  wylle  we  eow  sum  Jjing  be  eowre  sawle  sseccgan  .  sceort- 
lice  gif  w6  magon.     Ealle  pa  geleaffullan  fsederas  J3e  godes  lare  84 
awriton .  ssedon  untwylice  .  and  geJ)wserlehton  on  |3am  anum  .  poet 
god  gescyptS  selces  mannes  sawle  .  and  seo  sawl  nis  na  of  godes 
agenum  gecynde.     Gif  heo   wsere    of  godes   gecynde    genumen  . 
witodlice  ne  mihte  heo  singian.    pam  men  is  gecyndelic  pcet  h6  88 
lufige  jjset  pcet  god  is.     Hwset  is  god  butan  gode  anum  se  pe  is 
healic  godnisse .  butan  Jjam  ne  mseg  nan  man  nan  Jjing  godes  habban . 
Das  godnysse  we  sceolan  simble  lufian  pe.  us  selc  god  ofcym]?  .  ac 
Jjissere  godnysse  lufu  ne  mseg  beon  butan  on  jjsere  sawle  .  and  seo  92 
dn  sawul  is  setSelboren  J^e  'Sonne  lufatJ  pe  heo  fraw,  com  ,  pe  hi 
Jjyllice  gesc6op  Jsset  heo  on  hire  andgyte  habban  mihte  godes  dnlic- 
nesse  and  gelicnesse  .  and  ]78es  wyrtJe  wsere  .  pcet  hyre  god  on- 
wunode.     Ujjwytan  ssecga'S  .  poet  J?gere  sawle  gecynd  is  tSryfeald  .  96 
An  dsel  is  on  hire  gewylnigend-lic  .  oSer  yrsigend-lic  .  }>rydde  ge- 
sceadwislic.  Twsegen  J^issera  dsela  habbaS  deor  and  nytenu  mid  us  . 
pcet  is  gewylnunge  and  yrre.     Se  man  ana  hsefS  gescedd  .  and  raed  . 
and  andgit.     Grewylnung  is  Jjam  menn  forgifen  to  gewilnienne  pa  loc 
tSing  pQ  him  fremiatS  to  nit-wyrSum  Jjingum  and  to  Jjsere  ecan  hsele  . 
ponne  gif  seo  gewylnung  mis-went  .  j?onne  acentS  he  gyfernesse  . 
and  forlygi"  and  gitsunge.    Yrre  is  'Ssere  sawle  forgifen  .  to  tSy  pcet 
heo  yrsige  ongean  leahtres  .  and  ne  beo  na  synnum  under-Jpeodd  .  10^ 
for  Jjan  tSe  crist  cw3e(5  .  aelc  j^ara  pQ  synna  wyrctS  .  is  Jjaera  synna 
tSeow.     Gif  poet  yrre  bit?  on  yfel  awend  .  J^onne  cymtS  of  pam  un- 
rotnisse   .  and   semylnysse.       Gescead   is  Seere  sawle  forgifen  to 
gewyssienne  and  to  styrenne  hire  agen  lif  .  ^and  ealle  hire  dseda.  lof 
Of  pava.  gesceade  gif  hit  miswsent .  cymS  modignysse  and  ydel  gylp. 
Gescead  wextS  on  cildrum  na  seo  sawul .  and  seo  sawul  ]>ihjj  on  mseg- 
enum  .  and  ne  bitS  namare  Jjonne  heo  set  fruman  waes  ac  bitS  betere 
ne  heo  ne  underfgehtS  lichomlice  mycelnysse.     Seo  sawul  hsefS  swa  11: 
swa  we  a^r  cwsedon  on  hire  gecynde  .  jJsere  halgan  Jjrynnysse  anlic- 
nysse  .  on  j?an  jje  heo  hsefS  gemynd  .  and  andgit  .  and  wyllan.    An 
saAvul  is .  and  4n  lif .  and  dn  edwist .  pe  |?as  tSreo  |?ing  hseftS  on  hire . 
and  Jsas  tSreo  Jiing  na  synd  na  Sreo  lif  ac  dn  .  ne  jjreo  sedwiste  ac  dn.  ii( 

•  leaf  5,  back. 


I.   THE   NATIVITY    OF   OUR   LORD   JESUS   CHRIST.  17 

your  own  souls.  All  the  orthodox  fathers  who  wrote  God's  lore, 
spoke  undoubtingly  and  unanimously  agreed  in  this,  that  God 
create th  each  man's  soul,  and  the  soul  is  not  of  God's  own  nature. 
If  it  were  taken  from  God's  nature,  evidently  it  could  not  sin.  It 
is  natural  to  man  that  he  should  love  that  which  is  good ;  who  is 
good  but  God  only,  who  is  supreme  goodness,  without  whom  no 
man  can  have  anything  that  is  good  1  This  goodness,  from  which 
Cometh  to  us  every  good  thing,  we  must  ever  love,  but  the  love 
of  this  goodness  cannot  exist  except  in  the  soul,  and  only  that  soul 
is  nobly-born  that  loveth  Him  from  whom  it  came,  who  created 
it  such  that  it  might  have  God's  image  and  likeness  in  its  vmder- 
standing,  and  might  be  worthy  of  this  thing,  viz.  that  God  should 
dwell  in  it.  Philosophers  say  that  the  soul's  nature  is  threefold : 
the  first  part  in  her  is  capable  of  desjre,  the  second  of  anger,  the 
third  of  reason.  Two  of  these  parts,  beasts  and  cattle  have  in 
common  with  us,  that  is  to  say,  desire  and  anger ;  man  only  hath 
reason  and  speech  and  intelligence.  Desire  is  given  to  man  to 
desire  that  which  profiteth  him,  both  in  things  needful  and  for 
everlasting  salvation ;  but  if  the  desire  be  perverted,  it  begetteth 
Gluttony,  and  Lechery,  and  Avarice.  Anger  is  given  to  the  soul 
to  the  end  that  it  may  be  angry  against  vice,  and  be  subject  to 
no  sins,  because  that  Christ  said,  '  Whosoever  committeth  sins  is 
the  servant  of  sins.'  If  anger  be  turned  to  evil,  then  cometh 
therefrom  "Wrath  and  Sloth.  Reason  is  given  to  the  soul  to  direct 
and  govern  its  own  life  and  all  its  deeds;  from  reason,  if  it  be 
perverted,  proceed  Pride  and  Yainboasting  [Envy].  Reason,  not 
the  soul,  waxeth  in  children  ;  and  the  soul  increaseth  in  virtues, 
yet  is  it  no  larger  than  it  was  at  the  beginning ;  but  becometh 
better,  though  it  receiveth  no  bodily  increase. 

The  soul  hath  (as  we  before  said)  in  its  nature  a  likeness  to  the 
Holy  Trinity,  in  that  it  hath  memory,  understanding,  and  will.  It 
is  one  soul,  and  one  life,  and  one  substance,  which  hath  in  itself 
these  three  things ;  and  these  three  things  are  not  three  lives,  but 
one ;  not  three  substances,  but  one.     The  soul,  or  the  life,  or  the 

2 


18  I.    NATIVITAS    DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

Seo  sawul .  oSSe  pcet  lif  .  oScSe  seo  edwist  .  synd  gecwsedene  to  hyre 
sylfra  .  and  Ipoet  geniynd  .  o'S'Se  pcet  andgit  .  ojjfje  seo  wylla  .  beotS 
gecwsedene  to  sumum  })mga  .  ed-lesendlice  .  and  fias  tSreo  J^ing 
habbaS  annysse  him  betwynan  .  Ic  undergyte  .  Ipcet  ic  wylle  under-  120 
gytan  and  ge-munan  .  and  ic  wylle  pcet  ic  under -gyte  and  gemune  . 
baer  pder  Ipcet  gemynd  biS  .  J)?er  bi'S  pcet  andgyt  and  se  wylla  .  TJton 
nu  behealden  ]?a  wundorlican  swyftnysse  }?8ere  sawle .  heo  bsefS  swd 
niycele  swyftnysse  "pcet  heo   on   anre  tide  gif  heo  swd  wyle  .  be-  124 
sceawaS  heofonan  and  ofer  see  flyh'S  .  land  .  and  burga  geond-fsertS , 
and  ealle  J)as  J^ing  mid  gejjohte  on  hire  sihSe  gesset  .  and  swa 
hratSe  swa  heo  gehyrS  J)8ere  burge  naman  .  pe  heo  8^r  cutSe  .  swd 
hraSe  heo  mseg  pa  burh  on  hire  ge)5ohte  gescyppan  hwylc  heo  bi'S  .  128 
Eal  swd  be  gehwylcum  otSrum  J^ingum  pe  heo  ser  cucSe  .  ocSSe  ne 
cuSe  .  heo  mseg  on  hire  mode  gescyppan  .  Jjonne  heo  gehyrS  be 
psim  sprsecan  .  And  sw4  styrigende  is  seo  sawul  .  pcet  heo  furtSon 
6n  slsepe  ne  gestylj?  .  ac  c5onne  he  smeacS  be  rome  byrig  ne  mseg  132 
heo  pi  hwile  smeagen  be  hierusal^m  .  otJSe  J?onne  heo  smeacS  be 
anum   ping  .   ne  mseg  heo  |5a  hwyle  be  oSrum  J?inge  smeagen  . 
ac   hi]?   gebysgod  mid  ]?am  anum   Singe   d^pcet   ps&t   geJ)oht   ge- 
wyte  .  ^and  o(5er  cume  .  Witodlice  god  selmihtig  wdt  ealle  ]?ing  136 
togsedere  .  and  ealle  ping  hsettS  on  his  andwerdnysse  .  and  hi  sefre 
beoj?  on  his  gesih]5e  .  and  nsefre  him  uncuj^e  .  and  ]?is  is  pcet  ge- 
cwseden  is  pcet  god  is  seghwaer  eall  .  forSan  cSe  ealle  ]?ing  pe  sefre 
wseron  otSSe  nu  synd  .  o]3j?e  (Sa  j^e  towearde  synd  .  ealle  hi  synd  on  140 
godes  gesihSe  .  an-wearde  .  na  se'ne  .  dc  sefre  .  Seo  sawul  soSlice  is 
J)8es  lichoman  lif  .  and  J^sere  sawle  lif  is  god  .  Gif  seo  sawul  forlset 
}?onne  lichoman  J)onne  swselt  seo  lichoma  .  and  gif  god  forlset  Jja 
sawle  for  ormsettum  synnum  .  )7onne  swselt  heo  on  pam  sselran  144 
dsele  swd  pcet  heo  bicS  for-loren  Jjam  ecan  life  .  and  swd,  ]?eah  nsefre 
ne  ge-endacS  on  pa.m  ecum  wytum  .  pes  "^  dse'tS  hire  gellmptS  .  gif 
heo  Iset  rixian  on  hire  J?d,  gewilnunge  and  pCBt  yrre  .  swiSor  Jjonne 
pcet  gescead  pe  hi  gewysigen  sceall  to  wel-dsedum  .  a  .  Duruh  pcet  148 
gescead  dna  we  synd  sselran  ]?onne  pA  unge-sceadwysan  nytenu  . 
Mid  twam  wurcSscipum  ge-glsengde   se   selmihtiga  scyppend  ]?8es 
mannes  sawle  .  pcet  is  mid  eccnysse '  .  and  eadignysse  .  Ac  heo 
*  Leaf  6.  *  MS   pses,  alt.  to  pes.  ^  Dsccnysee,  cdt.  to  eccynsse. 


I.   THE   NATIVITY   OF   OUR   LORD  JESUS   CHRIST.  19 

substance  are  considered  by  themselves  separately ;  and  the  memory, 
or  the  understanding,  or  the  will,  are  considered  relatively  to  certain 
things,  and  these  three  have  unity  amongst  themselves.  I  under- 
stand that  which  I  will  to  understand  and  remember,  and  I  will 
that  which  I  understand  and  remember.  Wherever  memory  is, 
there  is  understanding  and  will.  Let  us  now  consider  the  wonderful 
swiftness  of  the  soul :  it  hath  so  great  swiftness  that  at  the  same 
time,  if  it  so  will,  it  contemplateth  heaven  and  flieth  over  sea, 
traverseth  countries  and  cities,  and  in  thought  disposeth  all  these 
things  in  its  vision  ;  and  as  soon  as  it  heareth  the  name  of  the  city 
that  it  knew  before,  so  soon  can  it  in  thought  create  that  city, 
whatsoever  it  be.  So  also,  as  to  every  other  thing  that  it  before 
knew  or  knew  not,  it  can  create  them  in  the  mind  whenever  it 
heareth  them  spoken  of.  So  active  is  the  soul,  that  even  in 
sleep  it  resteth  not ;  but  when  it  thinketh  of  the  city  of  Rome  it 
cannot  at  the  same  time  think  of  Jerusalem,  neither  when  it  is 
thinking  about  one  thing  can  it  at  the  same  time  think  of 
another,  but  is  busied  with  that  one  thing  until  that  thought 
dejiart  and  another  come.  Verily  God  Almighty  knoweth  all 
things  at  the  same  time,  and  hath  all  things  present  to  Him,  and 
they  are  ever  in  His  sight,  and  never  unknown  to  Him,  and  this  is 
that  which  is  said,  that  '  God  is,  everywhere,  all  things ' ;  because 
that  all  things  that  ever  were,  or  now  are,  or  are  to  come,  are  all 
present  to  God's  sight,  not  once  but  alway.  The  life  of  the  body  is 
the  soul,  and  the  life  of  the  soul  is  God.  If  the  soul  leave  the 
body,  then  the  body  dieth ;  and  if  God  leave  the  soul  because  of 
very  grievous  sins,  then  dieth  it  in  its  better  part,  so  that  it 
is  lost  to  the  eternal  life ;  but  nevertheless  it  never  cometh  to  an 
end  in  its  eternal  punishment. 

This  death  betideth  the  soul  if  it  allow  desire  and  anger  to 
reign  in  it,  rather  than  reason,  which  should  ever  direct  it  to  good 
deeds.  Through  reason  alone  are  we  better  than  the  irrational 
beasts.  "With  two  dignities  Almighty  God  adorned  man's  soul ; 
that  is  to  say,  with  immortality  and  happiness  :  but  it  lost  happiness 

2-2 


20  I.    NATIVITAS   DOMINI    NOSTRI    lESU    CHRISTI. 

for-leas  }?a  eadignysse  Jja  t5a  h6  agylte  .  and  heo  ne  mihte  p&  ec-  152 
nysse  for-leosan  forSan  j^e  heo  ne  ge-enda'S  nsefre    .    psere  sawle 
wlyte  Is  .  ])cet  heo  hsebbe  mihte  .  swd  pcet  heo  leahtres  forbuge  . 
and  heo  biS  atelic  J?urh  leahtras  gif  he  him  under-litS  .  Dsere  sawle 
mihta  syndon  |3as  feower  fyrmestan  .  and  sselestan  ,   prudentia  .  156 
pcet  IS  snoternysse  .  ]?urh  pa  heo  sceal  hyre  scippend  under-standan  . 
and  hine  lufian  .  and  tosceaden  {sic)  god  fram  yfele  .  O'Ser  msegen 
Is  .  lustitia  .  Ipoet  is  rihtwisnys  .  |?urh  f)a  heo  sceal  god  wurSigan  . 
and  rihtlice  libban  .  pset  Srydde  msegen  is  .  temperantia  .  Ipoet  is  160 
gemetegung .  mid  pxre  sceall  seo  sawul  ealle  J^ing  gemsetegian  .  p(st 
hit  to  svvijje  ne  sy ,  ne  to  hwonlice  .  fortSan  pe  hit  is  awryten  .  Om- 
nia nimia  nocent  .  pcet  is  ealle  ofer-done  ^  j^ing  dseriatS  .  Witodlice 
gemetegung  is  eallra  msegeua  modor  .  paet  feorSe  msegen  is  .  For-  164 
titudo  .  pcet  is  strsengtS  .  otStSe  anrednyss  .  J)urh  pA  sceal  seo  sawul 
for-bseran  earfotSnysse  mid  anrsedum  mode  .  for  godes  lufan  .  and 
nsefre  |?am  deofle  ne  abugan  to  forwyrde  .  Das  feower  msegenu 
habbatS  senne  kynehelm  .  pcet  is  seo  sotSe  lufu  .  godes  .  and  manna  .  168 
fortSau  pe  seo  sawul  is  gesselig  .  tSe  ]?onn6  scyppend  lufaS  pe  hi 
gesc^op  .  and  hire  gefseran  .  and  him  fremian  [wile]  swa  heo  fyrmest 
msege  .  Seo  sawul  is  gesceadwis  gast  .  sefre  cucu  and  maeg  under- 
fon  ge  godne  wyllan  .  and  yfelne  .  sefter  agenuw  eyre  .  Se  wel-  172 
willeude  scyppend  Iset  hi  habben  agenes  eyres  geweald  .  pi  weartS 
heo  be  agenum  wyllan  gewaemmed  ]3urh  psds   deofles  lare  .  Heo 
wser'S  seft  alysad  Jjuruh  godes   gife  .  gif  heo  gode  gehyrsumatS  . 
Heo  is  unge-ssewenlic  .  and  un-lichowlic  .  butan  hsefe  and  butan  176 
bleo .  mid  J?am  lichaman  befangen  .  and  on  eallum  limum  wunigende  . 
Ne  heo  ne  mseg  be  hyre  agenre  mihte  of  pam  lichoman  gewytan .  ne 
seft  ongean  cyrran  .  butan  se  wylle  pe  hi  geworhte  .  and  on  Jjonne 
lichaman  assende  .  Heo  is  on  bocum  manegum  naman  gecyged  .  be  180 
hyre  weorces  J^enungum  .  Hyre  nama  is  anima  pcet  is  sawul  and  seo 
nama  gelympt?  to  hire  life  .  And  ST^iritus  gast .  belimptS  to  hire  ymb- 
wldtunge  .  Heo  is  sensus  .  pcet  is  andgit .  ocS'Se  fel-nyss  .  Jjonne  heo 
gefret  .  Heo  is  animus  .  pcet  is  mod  .  Jjonne  heo  wat  .  Heo  is  mens .  184 
pa3t  is  mod  J)onne  heo  under-stent  .  Heo  is  memoria  .  pcet  is  gemynd . 
Jjonne  heo  gemantS  .  Heo  is  ratio  .  pcet  is  gescedd  .  |5onne  heo 
'  Leaf  6,  back. 


1.    THE   NATIVITY   OP   OUR   LORD   JESUS   CHRIST.  21 

when  it  sinned;  yet  immortality  it  cannot  lose,  because  it  shall 
never  end.  The  beauty  of  the  soul  is  to  have  power,  so  that  it 
may  eschew  evil ;  and  it  will  be  deformed  through  vices  if  it  be 
subject  unto  them.  The  soul's  powers  are  these  four  foremost  and 
best  ones  ;  Prudentia,  that  is  Prudence,  whereby  it  must  understand 
its  Creator  and  love  Him,  and  discern  good  from  evil.  The 
second  virtue  is  Justitia,  that  is,  righteousness  [Justice],  whereby 
it  must  worship  God  and  live  uprightly.  The  third  virtue  is 
Tem2)erantia,  that  is  moderation  [Temperance],  whereby  the  soul 
must  measure  all  things,  that  it  sin  not  by  excess  or  by  defect, 
because  it  is  written,  Omnia  nimia  nocent :  '  All  excesses  [lit. 
things  overdone]  are  hurtful.'  Verily  moderation  is  the  Mother  of 
all  virtues.  The  fourth  virtue  is  Fortitudo  [Fortitude],  that  is, 
strength  or  constancy,  whereby  the  soul  should,  with  steadfast 
mind,  endure  hardness  for  God's  love,  and  never  yield  to  the  Devil 
to  its  own  destruction.  These  four  virtues  have  one  crown,  that 
is,  the  true  love  of  God  and  Man,  because  the  soul  is  blessed  that 
loveth  the  God  who  created  it  and  its  fellow-pilgrims,  and  [desireth] 
to  do  good  to  them  to  its  utmost  power.  The  soul  is  a  rational 
spirit,  which  liveth  for  ever,  and  is  capable  of  following  either  a 
good  or  an  evil  desire  according  to  its  own  choice.  The  benevolent 
Creator  letteth  it  have  the  command  over  its  own  choice ;  then  be- 
came it  corrupt  by  its  own  free-will,  through  the  Devil's  teaching  ; 
but  it  shall  again  be  delivered  through  the  grace  of  God,  if  it  obey 
Him.  It  is  invisible  and  incorporeal,  without  weight  and  without 
colour,  clothed  upon  with  the  body,  and  dwelling  in  all  the  limbs. 
It  cannot  depart  out  of  the  body  by  its  own  power,  nor  return 
thither  again  except  He  who  made  it  and  sent  it  into  the  body 
should  so  will.  It  is  called  by  various  names  in  books,  according 
to  its  offices.  Its  name  is  Anima,  that  is.  Soul,  and  the  name 
befitteth  its  life ;  and  S2)iritus,  that  is  Spirit,  which  appertaineth 
to  its  contemplation.  It  is  Sensus,  that  is,  perception  or  sensation, 
when  it  perceiveth.  It  is  Animus,  that  is,  intellect,  when  it 
knoweth.  It  is  Mens,  that  is,  mind,  when  it  understandeth.  It  is 
Memoria,  that  is.  Memory,  when  it  remembereth  :  It  is  Hatio, 
that  is,    Reason,   when    it    reasoneth.      It    is    Voluntas,   that    is 


22  I.    NATIVITAS   DOMINI   NOSTRI    lESU    CHEISTI. 

16-Ecset  .  Heo  fs  uoluntas  .  ])(Bt  Is  wylla  .  j^onne  heo  hwset  wyle  . 
Ac  swa  j^eali  ealle  Jjas  naman  syndon  sawul  .  selc  sawul  is  gist  .  i88 
dc  ^swd   J)eah   nis   na  selc  gast  sawul   .   Se    apostol   paulus  to- 
twsemde  J^ges  gastes  naman  .  and  Jjses  modes  }3us  cwse'Sende  .  Psal- 
lawi  spiritu  psallam  et  mente  .  paet  is  on  senglisc  .  Ic  singe  mid 
gaste  .  and  ic  singe  mid  mode  Se  singtS  mid  gaste  .  se  Se  clypatS  192 
)3a  word  mid  mutSe  .  and  ne  under-stsent  |?8es  andgites  getacminge  . 
and  se  singtS  mid  mode  se   t5e   Jjses   andgites   getacnunge   under- 
stsent  .  Seo  sawul  is  J^ses  lichoman  hlsefdige  ,  and  heo  gewissatS 
pa  fif  andgitu  psds  lichaman  .  swd  swd  of  cyne-gsetle   .   pa  and-  196 
gitu  sint  gehatene  J?us  .  Uisus  .  pcet  is  gesihS  .  auditus  .  hlyst  . 
Gustus  .  swsec^  on  pam  mutSe  .  Odoratus  .  stsenc  .  on  |?sera  nosa  . 
tactus  .  hrepung  .  o'S'Se  grapung  .  on   eallum   limum  .  dc  ]?eah 
gewunelicost  on   |?am  lianduw    .    Das    fif  andgitu   gewissecS   seo  200 
gawul  to  hire  wyllan  .  and  hyre  gedafnatS  pcet  heo  swd  swa  hlfef- 
dige  .  geornlice  foresceawige  hwset  heo  gehwylcum  lime  bebeode 
to  donne  .  otStSe  hwaet  heo  gehwylcum  lime  gejjafige  on  gewylnunge 
his  gecyndes  .  pcet  J^aer  nan  p'mg  unjpseslice  ne  gelympe  on  nanes  204 
limes  j^enunge  .  Sw4  swd  god  selmihtig  oferstihS  ealle  gesceafta  . 
swd  oferstihcS  seo  sawul  ealle  lichamlice  gesceafta  mid  wurSfulnysse 
hyre   gecyndes  .  and  ndn  lichamlic  gesceaft  ne  mseg  beon   hyre 
wiS-meten  .  We  cwseden  ser  pcet  heo  wsere  butan  bleo  .  foij^an  'Se  208 
heo  nis  na  lichamlic  .  On  lichaman  biS  bleoh  .  and  seo  sawul  biS 
swd  ge-wlitegod  .  swa  heo  on  worulde  ge-earnode  .   Be  pam  cwae]? 
crist  on  his  godspelle   .   Tunc  iusti  fulgebunt  sicut  sol  in  regno 
patris  eorum  .  pcet  ys  on  se.nglisc  .  Jjonne  scinaS  |7a  riht-wisan  swa  2 1 2 
swA  sunne  on  heora  feeder  rice  .  Witodlice  }>a  drleasan  beoS  heora 
yfelum  weorcum  gelice  .  Nis  seo  or]?ung  pe  w6  ut  blawa]?  .  and 
in  ateoS  o]?J)e  ure  sawul  ^  dc  is  seo  lyft  pe  ealle  lichamlice  J?ing 
on  lybbaS  .  butan  fixum  anum  pe  on  flodum  lybbaS  .  Oft  biS  seo  216 
sawul  on  anum  ]?inge  .  oSSe  on  anum  gejjohte   .  swd  bysig  pcet 
heo  ne  gymS  hwd  hyre  gehende  biS  .  Jjeah  Se  heo  6n-locie  .  ne  Jjeah 
heo  sume  stemne  gehyre  .  heo  hit  ne  understent  .  ne  J^eah  hi  hwd, 
hreppe    heo    hit   ne  gefret  .   Hwilon  heo  besargaS  hyre  lichoman  220 
samissa  .  hwilon  heo  gladaS  on  godum  gelimi)uw  .  hwilon  heo 
'  Leaf  7.  2  MS.  sprsec,  alt.  to  swsec.  *  Leaf  7,  back. 


I.   THE   NATIVITY   OF   OUR    LORD  JESUS   CHRIST.  23 

"Will,  when  it  willeth  anything ;  nevertheless  all  these  names 
are  one  soul.  Every  soul  is  a  spirit,  but  nevertheless  every 
spirit  is  not  a  soul.  The  Apostle  Paul  distinguished  between 
these  names  of  spirit  and  mind,  thus  saying — Fsallam  sjnritUy 
jysdllam  et  mcnte.  That  is,  in  English,  'I  will  sing  with 
the  spirit,  and  I  will  sing  with  the  mind.'  He  singeth  with  the 
spirit  who  uttereth  the  words  with  his  mouth  and  understandeth 
not  the  signification  of  their  meaning ;  and  he  sings  with  the  mind 
who  understandeth  the  signification  of  their  meaning.  The  soul  is 
the  mistress  of  the  body,  and  governeth  the  five  senses  of  the  body, 
as  out  of  a  royal  throne.  These  senses  are  thus  named :  Visus, 
that  is,  Sight ;  Auditus,  Hearing ;  Gustus,  Taste  with  the  mouth  ; 
Odoratus,  Smelling  with  the  nose;  Tactus,  Touching  or  feeling 
with  all  the  limbs,  but  most  usually  with  the  hands. 

The  Soul  directeth  these  five  senses  according  to  its  will,  and 
it  behoveth  it  that,  as  a  mistress,  it  should  carefully  consider 
what  it  will  command  each  limb  to  do,  or  what  it  permitteth  to 
each  limb  as  regards  its  natural  desire,  that  nothing  unseemly 
should  befal  by  means  of  any  limb's  service. 

Like  as  God  Almighty  excelleth  all  creatures,  so  excelleth  the 
soul  all  created  bodies  by  the  dignity  of  its  nature,  and  no  bodily 
creature  may  be  compared  with  it.  We  said  before  that  the  soul 
was  without  colour,  because  it  is  incorporeal.  A  body  hath  colour, 
and  the  soul  will  be  adorned  according  as  it  hath  merited  on  earth  ; 
of  this  spake  Christ  in  His  Gospel,  Tunc  justi  fulgebunt  sicut  sol 
in  regno  j)'^^'^^^  eorum.  That  is,  in  English,  *  Then  shall  the 
righteous  shine  as  the  sun  in  their  Father's  kingdom.'  Verily 
the  wicked  shall  be  like  their  own  evil  deeds.  It  is  not  our 
breath  [spiritus]  or  our  soul  that  we  blow  out  and  draw  in,  but 
air,  in  which  all  bodily  things  live,  except  only  fishes  that  live  in 
the  waters.  The  soul  is  often  so  busy  about  one  thing  or  one 
thought,  that  it  heedeth  not  who  may  be  near  at  hand,  though  it 
may  be  looking  at  him ;  and  though  it  hear  a  voice,  it  under- 
standeth it  not ;  though  any  touch  it,  it  feeleth  him  not.  Some- 
times it  sorroweth  for  its  body's  pains,  sometimes  it  rejoiceth  in 
good  fortune  ;  sometimes  it  thinketh  of  things  that  it  knew  before  ; 


24  II.    NATALE    SANCTE    EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

JjsenctS  }?a   tSing   j^e   heo   ser   cuSe  .  hwilon   heo  wyle  wytan  pa, 
■Sing  pe  heo  ser  ne  cutSe  .  Sume  p'mg  heo  wyle  .  sume  (Sing  heo 
nele  .  and  ealle  lichamlicra  )5inga  hiw  heo  mseg  on  hyre  sylfre  224 
gehiwian  .  and  swa  gehiwode  on  hyre  mode  gehealden    .    Dsere 
sawle  wlyte  is  pcet  heo  wisdom  lufie  .  n4  tSone  eortSlican  wisdom  be 
pam  pe  )5us  awriten  is  .  Sapientia  hnius  mundi  .  stultitia  est  apud 
deum  .  pysses  middan-eardes  wysdom  .  is  stuntnis  setforan  gode  .  228 
Ac  fionne  wisdom  heo  sceal  leomian  .  pcet  heo  lufie  god  .  and  hine 
sefre  wurSige  on  eallum  hyre  weorcum  .  and  j^a  J^ing  leornige  pe 
gode   liciatS  .  and  pa   j^ing  forlsete   pe  him   latSe   syndon    .    pses 
wisdom  is  awryten  on  halgum  bocum  .  and   be  tSam   is  J5us   ge-  4*2 
cwaeden  .  Omnis  sapientia  a  domino  deo  est  .  ^Ic  wisdom  is  of 
gode  .  Is  nu  fortSy  selc  man  eadig  and  gesselig  .  se  tSe  for  gode 
wis  bi'S  .  and  gif  heo  his  weorc  mid  wisdome  gefadacS  .  Be   j^aem 
cwse'S  se   sediga   iob  .    paes   mannes   wisdom   is   drfsestnys  .  and  236 
BO'S  ingehyd  .  pcet  heo  yfel  forbuge  .  Witodlice  pcet  is  so)?  wysdom  . 
pcet  man  gewylnige  pcet  sotSe  lif  on  pam  pe  he  sefre  lybban  mseg 
mid  gode  on  wuldre  gif  h6  hit  on  |?yssere  worulde  ge-earnatS  .  To 
Jj^m  us  ge-lsede  seo  leofa  drihten  crist  .  se  ?5e  is   sot^  wysdom  .  240 
and  sawla  lif  .  se  t5e  mid  his  ecan  feeder  .  and  mid  J)am  halgan 
gaste  .  d  on  ecnysse  leofatJ  .  Amen. 

II. 

EODEM  DIE  NAT^LjE^  S^A^C^'E  EUGENIE  UIRGIN/5. 

[Another  copy,  much  burnt  and  nearly  useless,  is  in  MS.  Otho,  B.  10,  fol.  10. 
I  give  a  few  various  readings,  marked  '  0.'] 

MMG   GE-HYBAN    SE   DE   WYLE   BE   pAM.   HALGAN   ^  msedenC  . 
eugenian  philyppus  dsehter  . 
ha  heo  tSurh  mseg'Shdd  mserlice  Jseah  . 

and  ]jurh  martyr-dom  J^isne  middan-eard  ofer-swatJ.  4 

Sum  sejjel-boren  padgn  wses  philippus  gehaten  . 
tSone  asende  se  casere  commodus 
pe  on  Sam  dagum  rixode  .  fram  rome  byrig 

to  tSsere  b^rig  tSe  is  gehaten  alexandria  .  8 

and  he  hine  gesette  to  heah-gerefan 

»  Leaf  8. 


II.    SAINT    EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  25 

sometimes  it  desireth  to  know  those  thinga  that  it  before  knew  not. 
Some  things  it  willeth,  some  things  it  willeth  not ;  and  every  form 
of  corporeal  things  it  can  shape  within  itself,  and  so  shaped  retain 
them  in  its  mind.  The  soul's  beauty  consists  in  loving  wisdom  ; 
not  that  earthly  wisdom  of  which  it  is  thus  written,  Sapientia 
hujus  mundi  stuUitia  est  a2)ud  deum  :  '  The  wisdom  of  this  world 
is  foolishness  before  God.'  But  this  wisdom  it  should  learn — to 
love  God,  and  ever  honour  Him  in  all  its  works  ;  to  learn  those 
things  which  please  God,  and  forsake  those  things  which  are 
displeasing  to  Him.  This  wisdom  is  written  of  in  Holy  Scripture ; 
and  it  is  said  of  it,  Omnis  sa2nentia  a  Domino  Deo  est :  *  Every 
wisdom  is  of  God.'  Wherefore  every  man  is  happy  and  blessed 
who  is  wise  toward  God,  and  if  he  order  his  deeds  by  the  aid  of 
wisdom.  Concerning  this  spake  blessed  Job,  '  Man's  wisdom  is 
righteousness,  and  his  true  knowledge  is  to  depart  from  evil ' : 
Verily  this  is  true  wisdom,  that  a  man  desire  the  true  life  wherein 
he  may  live  for  ever  with  God  in  glory,  if  he  merit  it  in  this 
world.  To  this  may  our  dear  Lord  Christ  bring  us,  who  is  the 
true  Wisdom,  and  the  Life  of  souls,  who  with  His  Eternal  Father 
and  with  the  Holy  Ghost  liveth  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

II. 

DECEMBER  XXV.  ST.  EUGENIA,  VIRGIN. 

He  who  wishes  it,  may  hear  concerning  the  holy  maiden 

Eugenia,  the  daughter  of  Philip; 

how  she  by  her  virginity  gloriously  flourished, 

and  by  martyrdom  overcame  this  world. 

A  certain  nobly-born  thane  was  named  Philip, 

whom  the  emperor  Commodus  sent — 

he  who  in  those  days  ruled — from  the  city  of  Rome 

to  the  city  which  is  named  Alexandria  ; 

and  he  appointed  him  as  chief  ruler 


36  II.    NATALE   SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

ofer  alexandrian  .  and  segyfto  lande. 
and  h^t   poet  he  heolde  ]?a  romaniscan  geEsetnysse. 
Dees  Ssegn  philippus  .  nses  na  gefuUod  on  gode  .  12 

for]3an  J)e  cristendom  nees  ]?agyt  geond  eall  cutS  . 
and  seo  rej^e  selitnyss  j^^g/t  nses  gestylled. 
His  wif  wses  gecyged  claudia 

be  J?8ere  he  gestrynde  tweegen  suna  .  16 

auitum  .  and  soergium  .  and  ane  dohtor 
eugenian  .  J?e  w6  embe  sprseca}?. 
Da  befaeste  se  feeder  philippus  to  lare  . 

'pcet  heo  on  woruld-wysdome  wa?re  getogen  .  20 

sefter  greciscre  u'Swytegunge  .  and  Isedenre  getingnysse. 
Eugenia  ]?a  pcet  seSele  mseden  . 
wel  Jjeah  on  wisdome  .  and  6n  uSwytegunge. 
pa  becom  hyre  on  hand  ]33es  halgan  apostoles  Idr  24 

paules  J?8es  mseran  ealles  manncynnes  lareowes. 
pi  wearS  hyre  mod  mycclum  on-bryrd 
J?uruh  J?4  halgen  lare  .  )?eah  Se  heo  pi  gyt  hgeSen  wiBre. 
Heo  bsed  J?a  hyre  feeder  pcet  heo  feeren  moste  28 

geond  his  hames  on  alexandiscre  scyre  . 
wolde  swA  cepan  jjsere  cristenra  lare  . 
fortSan  pe  heo  neefde  on  Seere  byrig  neenne 

geleaffulne  mann  pe  hi  lasren  cu]?e  .  32 

fortSan  philippus  aflygde  pi  cristenan 
6f  alexandrian  .  ealle  on  eer. 
Hweet  pa.  evgenia  ardlice  feerde  . 

otS  poet  h^o  bec6m  J>eer  tJa  cristenan  sungen  36 

mid  mycelre  blisse  Jjus  meersigende  god. 
Omwes  dii  gentium  demonia  .  domiiiws  autem  caelos  fecit. 
Ealle  peeve  hseSenra  godas  syndon  deofla  . 

and  dryhten  soSlice  heofonas  geworhte.  40 

Eugenia  p&  mycclum  weartS  ^  onbryrd 
and  mid  wope  gesprsec  hire  twaegen  cnihtas  . 
j38Bre  naman  weeron  .  protus  .  et  iacinctus  . 
JjA  waeron  geleerede  on  leden  .  and  on  grecisc  .  44 

'  Leaf  8,  back. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  27 

over  Alexandria  and  the  land  of  Egypt, 

and  commanded  him  to  observe  the  Roman  law. 

This  thane  Philip  was  not  baptized  unto  God, 

because  Christianity  was  not  yet  known  everywhere, 

and  the  cruel  persecution  was  not  yet  stilled. 

His  wife  was  named  Claudia, 

on  whom  he  begat  two  sons, 

Avitus  and  Sergius,  and  one  daughter, 

Eugenia,  of  whom  we  now  speak. 

Then  her  father  Philip  put  her  to  school 

that  she  might  be  educated  in  worldly  wisdom 

according  to  the  Greek  philosophy  and  Latin  eloquence. 

Eugenia  then,  that  noble  maiden, 

well  increased  in  wisdom  and  in  philosophy. 

Then  came  into  her  hands  the  holy  apostle's  doctrine, 

[the  words  of]  St.  Paul,  the  famous  teacher  of  all  mankind. 

Then  was  her  mind  greatly  aroused 

by  the  sacred  doctrine,  though  she  was  still  a  heathen. 

Then  prayed  she  her  father  that  she  might  go 

away  from  his  house  in  the  city  of  Alexandria; 

she  thus  desired  to  seek  after  the  Christians'  doctrine, 

because  she  had  no  one  in  that  city, 

no  believing  man  who  could  instruct  her, 

seeing  that  Philip  di-ave  away  the  Christians 

from  Alexandria  beforehand,  all  of  them. 

So  then  Eugenia  quickly  journeyed 

until  she  arrived  where  the  Christians  were  singing 

with  great  joy,  thus  glorifying  God  : 

Omnes  dii  gentium  demonia ;   dominus  autem  celos  fecit  : 

'  All  the  gods  of  the  heathen  are  devils, 

and  verily  the  Lord  created  the  heavens.' 

Eugenia  then  was  greatly  stirred, 

and  with  weeping  addressed  her  two  servants, 

whose  names  were  Protus  and  Jacinctus, 

who  had  been  instructed  in  Latin  and  in  Greek, 


28  II.    NATALE   SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

mid  eugenian  mid  woruld-licra  lare  . 
and  weeron  eunuchi  .  pcet  synt  belisnode  . 
and  wseron  heora  hlgefdige  holde  and  ge-trywe. 
Da  nam  eugenia  hi  on  sundor-spraece  .  48 

h6t  hi  gebrocSra  .  and  bsed  poet  hi 
hyre  fsex  forcurfon  on  waepmonna  wysan  . 
and  mid  wsedum  gehiwodon  .  swylce  heo  cniht  wsere  . 
wolde  tSam  cristenan  gen^alecan  52 

on  wserlicum  hiwe  .  ])cet  heo  ne  wurde  am^ldod. 
Hi  fserdon  Sa  pry  .  and  heora  gefseran  forleton  , 
d^cet  hi  becoman  to  (Ssere  cristenra  wununge. 
peer  hi  dseges  and  nihtes  heora  drihten  heroden.  56 

On  tSam  ylcan  daege  com  sum  bisceop 
helenus  gehaten  .  haliges  lifes  . 
mid  mycelre  meniu  .  4n-modlice  singende. 

Uia  iustorum  recta  facta  est  .  et  iter  sanctornm  preparata  est.        60 
pcet  is  ]38era  rihtwisra  wseg  .  is  geriht-lseced  . 
and  J58era  halgena  sitSfset  is  gegearcod. 
pes  bisceop  worhta  fsela  wundra  ]3uruh  god  . 
and  him  wearS  geswutelod  on  swsefne  be  J5y-sum  .  64 

and  eall  J)ses  msedenes  mod  him  weartS  ameldod. 
D4  gesprsec  poet  mseden  sumne  messe-preost. 
Eutropius  gehaten  pcet  he  hyre  serende 

abude  |?am  bisceope  .  Jjysum  wordum  geornlice  .  68 

w6  Sry  gebrot5ra  wyllaS  gecyrran 
fram  Jjam  fulan  hiBc5en-scype  .  to  hselende  criste  . 
and  we  nellatS  ndtes  hwon  .  us  nsefre  to-tweman. 
pd  Jjses  6n  mergen  se  msesse-preost  ^2 

ahead  J^aes  msedenes  word  .  pam  mseron  bisceope. 
pa  h^t  se  bisceop  hi  gelangian  . 
mycclum  Jjanciende  pam  selmilitigan  gode  . 

p(Bt  h6  wolde  him  onwreon  J?8es  msedenes  wyllan.  76 

H6  gendm  hi  pi  onsuudron  .  and  ssede  hyre  gewislice  . 
hwaet  heo  man  ne  waes  .  and  hwylcere  msegpe  . 
and  pcet  heo  Jjurh  msegtS-  ^  hdd  mycclum  gelicode  . 

'  Leaf  9. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  29 

together  with  Eugenia,  in  worldly  doctrine, 

and  were  eunuchi,  that  is  to  say,  castrated, 

and  were  to  their  mistress  true  and  faithful. 

Then  Eugenia  took  them  apart  in  conversation, 

called  them  brethren,  and  besought  that  they 

would  shear  her  hair  after  the  fashion  of  men, 

and  disguise  her  with  garments  as  if  she  were  a  boy. 

She  desired  to  approach  the  Christians 

in  the  garb  of  a  man,  that  she  might  not  be  betrayed. 

Then  went  these  three,  and  left  their  companions, 

until  they  arrived  at  the  Christians'  abode, 

where  they  praised  their  Lord  by  night  and  by  day. 

On  that  same  day  came  a  certain  bishop, 

Helenus  by  name,  of  holy  life, 

with  a  great  multitude,  unanimously  singing — 

Via  iustorum  recta  facta  est,  et  iter  sanctorum  preparata  est  : 

that  is  to  say,  *  The  way  of  the  righteous  is  guided, 

and  the  path  of  the  saints  is  prepared.' 

This  bishop  wrought  many  miracles  by  God's  help, 

and  it  was  revealed  to  him  in  a  vision  concerning  this  matter, 

and  all  the  maid's  intent  was  made  known  to  him. 

Then  the  maiden  addressed  a  certain  mass-priest, 

Eutropius  by  name,  in  order  that  he  might  declare 

her  errand  to  the  bishop,  speaking  eagerly  in  these  words  : 

'  We  three  brethren  are  desirous  to  turn 

from  foul  heathendom  to  Jesus  Christ, 

and  we  desire  on  no  account  to  be  separated  from  each  other.' 

When  therefore  in  the  morning  the  mass-priest 

reported  the  maid's  message  to  the  famous  bishop, 

then  the  bishop  bade  her  be  called, 

greatly  thanking  Almighty  God, 

that  He  had  been  pleased  to  reveal  to  him  the  maiden's  will. 

Then  he  took  her  asunder,  and  said  to  her  assuredly 

how  she  was  no  man,  and  of  what  kindred  she  was, 

and  how  she,  by  the  virginity  which  she  had  chosen, 


30  II.    NATALE    SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

J)am  heofon-lican  cyninge  .  pe  heo  gecoren  hsefde  .  80 

and  cwse'S  pcet  heo  sceolde  swi'Slice  seht-nyssa  . 

for  mseg'S-hade  tSrowian  .  and  J^eah  beon  gescyld 

]5urh  ]3one  soSan  drihten  ,  jje  ge-scylt  his  gecorenan. 

To  hire  twam  cnihtum  .  he  cwseS  pcet  hi   heoldan  84 

gejjel-borennyss  on  mode  .  ]?eah  pe  hi  mannum  ]?eowdon  . 

and  cwseS  ]>cet  hi  crist  gesprsece  pjsum  godspellicum  wordum. 

Ne  hate  ic  eow  na  ]7eo\van  .  dc  g6  synd  mine  freond. 

pa  be-bead  se  biscop  pam  gebogenan  mae'dene  .  88 

pcet  heo  swd  J?urh-wunade  .  on  })am  wserlicum  hiwe  . 

ojjjjoe^  hi  on  fante  gefullode  vvurdon  . 

and  mynster-licre  drohtminge  .  dearniinge  ge-Jjeodde. 

Eugenia  ]?a  wunode  on  J?am  mynstre  92 

mid  waerlicum  mode  .  ]?eah  pe  heo  mseden  waere  . 

mid  hyre  twam  cnihtum  .  uncutS  gehwdm  . 

And  heold  on  hyre  J^eawum  halige  drohtnunge  . 

■^urh  modes  li]?nesse  .  and  myceh'e  eadmodnesse  .  96 

and  J5urh  halige  msegnu  .  ]?am  hselende  ge-cwsemde. 

Heo  peah  on  lare  .  J^ses  rihtan  geleafan  . 

and  on  godcundlicum  gewrytum  mid  godum  wyllan  . 

and  wearS  awend  of  wulfe  to  sceape.  100 

Hyre  ge-euenlsehton  .  eac  hyre  cnihtas  . 

protus  .  et  iacinctus  .  on  synderlicre  drohtnunge  . 

and  hyre  digol-nysse  eallum  be-dyrndon. 

Philippus  tSd  se  feeder  forwear'S  on  mode  .  104 

and  seo  modor  claudia  .  mid  murcnunge  wses  for-numen  . 

and  eall  seo  msegtS  on  mode  weartS  astyred  . 

and  sohten  pcBt  maeden  mid  mycelre  sarnysse. 

Hi  axoden  eet  wyccum  and  set  wisum  dryum  .  108 

eac  set  heora  leasum  godum  .  be  Jjsere  godes  ]?inene. 

Him  wearS  pk  gesaed  to  so]5um  J?inge. 

pcet  ?Sd  godes  hi  ge-gripon  for  hyre  godnysse  , 

P&,  gelyfde  se  feeder  Jjsere  leasunga  112 

^and  h6t  asmitSigen  .  of  smastum  golde 

*  Leaf  9,  back. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  .  31 

greatly  pleased  the  heavenly  King; 

and  said,  that  she  should  extremely  suffer  persecutions 

because  of  her  virginity,  and  should  yet  be  preserved 

by  help  of  the  true  Lord,  who  shields  his  chosen  ones. 

To  her  two  servants  he  said,  that  they  ought  to  preserve 

true  nobility  in  their  minds,  though  they  served  men, 

and  said  that  Christ  addressed  them  in  these  gospel- words, 

*  I  call  you  not  servants,  but  ye  are  my  friends.' 

Then  the  bishop  bade  the  converted  maiden 

still  to  continue  in  the  man's  apparel, 

until  they  had  all  been  baptized  in  the  font, 

and  to  join  secretly  in  the  service  in  the  minster. 

Eugenia  then  dwelt  in  the  minster 

with  a  man's  mind,  though  she  were  a  maid, 

with  her  two  servants,  unknown  to  every  one, 

and  observed  in  her  conduct  the  holy  service 

with  gentleness  of  mind  and  great  humility, 

and  by  her  holy  virtues  pleased  the  Saviour. 

She  increased  in  the  doctrine  of  the  true  faith, 

and  in  divine  writ,  with  a  good  will, 

and  was  changed  (as  it  were)  from  a  wolf  to  a  sheep. 

Her  servants  also  imitated  her,  Protus  and  Jacinctus, 

in  private  devotion,  and  wholly  kept  her  secret. 

Philip  then,  her  father,  was  disordered  in  mind, 

and  her  mother  Claudia  was  seized  with  murmuring, 

and  all  her  kindred  were  stirred  up  in  their  minds, 

and  sought  for  the  maiden  with  much  sorrow. 

They  enquired  of  witches  and  of  wise  sorcerers, 

and  eke  of  their  false  gods,  concerning  God's  handmaid. 

Then  it  was  reported  to  them  for  a  true  tale, 

that  the  gods  had  taken  her  for  her  goodness. 

Then  the  father  believed  the  lying  tale, 

and  bade  men  fashion,  out  of  beaten  gold. 


32  II.    NATALE    SANCTE    EUGENIE    UIEGINIS. 

hyre  anlycnysse  .  and  p^  wurcSode 

swd  sw4  halige  g-ydenan  .  ac  hit  wses  gold  swd-  peah. 

pa  sefter  ]5rym  gearum  .  j^ses  pe  heo  gecyrred  wses  ii6 

gewdt  se  abbod  pe  ^  hyre  ealdor  wses  . 

and  pi  gebrotSra  sona  ceosan  ongunncn  . 

eugenian  to  abbude^  .  for  hyre  drfsestan  life  . 

and  nyston  pcet  heo  waes  wimman  swa  |3eah.  120 

Da  wearS  pcet  mseden  mycclum  hoh-ful  . 

hu  heo  sefre  wseras  wissian  sceolde, 

Ne  dorste  sw4  jjeah  hi  ealle  gedr^fan  . 

and  hyra  ge]3eaht  forseon  .  do  fseng  to  Sam  hade.  124 

Hwset  Sa  eugenia  hym  eallum  gebysnode^ 

mid  goddre  gedrohtnunge  ,  to  godes  |?eowdome  . 

and  mid  cdrfulnysse  .  J^onne  hyred  gewissode. 

Hyre  ge-u?5e  pi  se  selmihtiga  wealdend.  128 

pcet  heo  uutrurae  menn  mihte  gehselan  . 

swd,  hwylcne  swd  heo  geneosode  licgende  on  sare. 

Heo  aflygde  eac  swylce  pi  fulan  deofla  . 

fram  ofssettum  mannum  .  })urh  socSne  geleafan  .  132 

pa  wses  sum  wif  wselig  on  sehtum  . 

melantia  gecyged  .  swiSe  Jjearle  ge-dreht  . 

mid  lang-sumum  feofore  .  and  com  to  Ssere   femnan  , 

Eugenia  pi  hi  gesmyrode  .  mid  gehalgodum  ele  .  136 

and  eac  gemearcode  mid  rode-tacne  . 

and  heo  pcet  re'Se  attor  eall  tit  aspaw  .  pe  hyre  dserede  . 

and  wear]?  geheeled  |5urh  pcet  halige  mseden  . 

J3a  bead  seo  wydewe  pam  msedene  sceattas  140 

for  hyre  hsele  .  do  heo  hi  forsoc  . 

and  tihte  ^i  o]5re  pcet  heo  hi  dselde  . 

Jjearfum  and  wsedlum  for  Sam  gewissan  eadleane. 

Di  gewsende  seo  wydewe  ham  to  hyre  agenum  144 

and  com  siSSan  gelome  .  mid  lea  sum  mode 

to  pam  wlytegan  msedene  .  wende  pcet  heo  cniht  waere  . 

and  msenig-fealde  sceattas  hyre  unmgecSlice  bead  . 

dc  pa  ]7a  heo  geseah  .  pcet  seo  soSfseste  fsemne  148 

*  See  MS.  Otho  B.  x.  fol.  10  {as  now  numbered).     ^  abbode  0.     ^  bysnode  O. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIR&IN.  88 

an  image  of  her,  and  then  worshipped  it 

as  a  holy  goddess ;  but  it  was  gold  still. 

Then  after  three  years  since  her  conversion, 

the  abbot,  that  was  her  elder,  departed  this  life, 

and  the  brethren  immediately  began  to  choose 

Eugenia  as  their  abbot,  for  her  devout  life, 

and  knew  not  that  she  was  a  woman  all  the  while. 

Then  became  the  maiden  extremely  anxious 

how  she  was  ever  to  direct  men; 

yet  durst  she  not  offend  them  all 

and  despise  their  election,  but  accepted  the  office. 

Well  then,  Eugenia  set  an  example  to  them  all 

with  good  devotion  to  God's  service, 

and  with  carefulness  governed  the  community. 

Then  the  Almighty  Euler  granted  her, 

that  she  might  heal  infirm  men, 

whom  ever  she  visited,  as  they  lay  in  sickness. 

She  drove  away  also  foul  devils 

from  possessed  men,  through  the  true  faith. 

Then  was  there  a  certain  woman,  wealthy  in  possessions, 

by  name  Melantia,  very  sorely  afflicted 

with  a  long-lasting  fever,  and  she  came  to  the  woman. 

Eugenia  then  besmeared  her  with  hallowed  oil, 

and  moreover  marked  her  with  the  sign  of  the  cross, 

and  she  vomited  out  all  the  evil  venom  that  was  harming  her, 

and  was  healed  by  means  of  the  holy  maiden. 

Then  the  widow  offered  treasures  to  the  maiden 

for  her  healing,  but  she  refused  them, 

and  persuaded  the  other  to  distribute  them 

to  poor  people  and  beggars,  for  sake  of  the  sure  reward. 

Then  the  widow  returned  home  to  her  own, 

and  afterwards  came  often,  with  a  false  mind, 

to  the  beauteous  maiden;  for  she  thought  she  was  a  youth, 

and  wickedly  offered  her  manifold  treasures. 

But  when  she  perceived  that  the  virtuous  woman 

3 


34  II.    NATALE    SANCIT.   EUGENIE   UIRGINIS. 

hyre  laca  ne  rohte  .  ne  liyre  ru^nunga  . 

])i  weartS  heo  mid  yfele  .  eall  afylled  . 

and  gebrse'd  hi  seoce  mid  bysmor-fuUum  gej)ance  . 

'^Heo  bsed  Ipi  eugenian  .  pcet  heo  hi  geneosode''  .  152 

and  ongan  hyre  esecgan  hyre  sweartan  ge]?ohtas  . 

cwse'S  \>cet  heo  wsere  wydewe  on  Jsam  geare  . 

and  hyre  wer  Igefde  unlytle  aehta 

on  lande  .  and  on  feo  .  and  6n  fore-wyrcendum  *  .  156 

and  unc  nses  gemsene  .  man  on  'Sysuw  lyfe  . 

Nu  ^  IS  min  mod  awend  mycclum  to   (5e  . 

pcet  |5U  hlaford  beo  ]?8era  sehta  and  min  . 

Ic  wene  pcet  hit  ne  sy  unrihtwisnysse  ®  .  setforan  gode  160 

peah.  ?Se  J)u  wifes  brtice  .  and  blysse''  on  life  . 

Da  andwyrde  eugertia  Jjyssere  olecunge  . 

and  cw8e?5  to  Jjam  wife  .  mid  J?isuwi  ingehyde  . 

pcet  tSa  gewylnunga^  J^issere  andweardan®  worulde  .  164 

synt  ^°  switSe  swicole  .  fieah  Tpe  hi  geswsese  been  . 

and  Tpssa  lichoman  lustas  gelome  be-pseceS  . 

and  to  sarnissum  gelsedatS  pa.  Ipe  hi  swiSost  lufia?5  . 

Miter  ]?issere  tihtinge  and  on  otSrum  larum  .  168 

beclypte  seo  myltestre"  Ipcet  clsene  mseden"  . 

and  wolde  hi^^  gebygan  to  bismorlicu??!  hsemede  . 

Hwset  tSa  eugenia  .  hi  gebletsode  , 

and  cwseS  to  tSsere  sceande  .  pcet  heo  so  (Slice  wsere  172 

galnysse  ontendnyss  .  and  gramena  msege  . 

Jjeostra  gefsera  .  and  mid  sweartnysae  afylled  . 

DeatSes  dohtor  and  deofles  fsetels  . 

Habban  J^ine  sehta  J?ine  gelican  .  176 

w6  habbatS  ealle  Sing  mid  Ipam  selmihtigan  drihtne  . 

D4  weartS  melantia  micclum  of-sceamod  . 

wende  \)cet  heo  wolde  hyre  word  ameldian  . 

buton  heo  sylf  on  ser  hit  openlice  cydde  .  180 

»  Leaf  10.  »  See  MS.  Otho,  B.  x.  fol.  10,  back.  »  geniosode  0. 

*  wyrcendum  mannum  0.  '  0.  inserts  hlaford.  ■  unrihtwisnys  O. 

^  blissie  0.  "  gewilnunge  O.  »  O.  om.  andweardan.  '"  sind  O. 

"-"  fone  abbod.  »«  hine  O. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,   VIRGIN.  8 

recked  not  of  her  gifts,  nor  of  her  whisperings, 

then  was  she  wholly  filled  with  evil, 

and  feigned  herself  sick  with  deceitful  intent. 

She  then  besought  Eugenia  to  visit  her, 

and  began  to  speak  to  her  her  dark  thoughts, 

saying  that  she  had  been  a  widow  for  a  year, 

and  her  husband  had  left  her  not  a  little  property 

in  land  and  in  cattle,  and  in  domestic  servants; 

'  and  we  two  had '  (said  she)  '  no  communion  in  this  life. 

Now  is  my  mind  much  inclined  towards  thee, 

that  thou  mayst  be  lord  of  my  goods  and  of  me. 

I  ween  it  is  no  unrighteousness  before  God 

though  thou  shouldst  enjoy  a  wife  and  happiness  ia  this  life.' 

Then  Eugenia  replied  to  this  flattery, 

and  spake  to  the  woman  to  this  intent, 

that  the  desires  of  this  present  world 

are  extremely  deceitful,  though  they  be  pleasant, 

and  the  lusts  of  the  body  oftentimes  seduce 

and  bring  them  to  sorrow  who  love  them  most. 

After  this  persuasion  and  amongst  other  teaching, 

the  wanton  woman  embraced  the  pure  maiden, 

desiring  to  incline  her  to  shameful  adultery. 

Lo  !   then  Eugenia  blessed  herself, 

and  said,  to  her  shame,  that  she  verily  was 

a  kindler  of  lust,  a  child  of  wrath, 

a  companion  of  darkness,  and  filled  with  blackness, 

a  daughter  of  death,  and  the  devil's  vessel. 

'Let  them  that  are  like  thee  possess  thy  goods, 

we  possess  all  things  together  with  Almighty  God.' 

Then  was  Melantia  greatly  ashamed, 

and  supposed  that  she  would  betray  her  conversation, 

unless  she  herself  beforehand  made  it  publicly  known. 

3-2 


36  II.    NATALE    SANCTE    EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

Fserde  ]jd  ardlice  to  alexandrian  byrig  . 

to  pam  heah-geraefan  .  pe  wses  ge-haten  philippus  . 

eugenian  feeder  .  peah  seo  fule  pcet  nyste  . 

and  begann  hi  to  wrsegenne  .  and  wolde  forssecgan  .  184 

cwse'S  pcet  heo  code  to  hyre  licgendre  . 

on  Iseces  hiwe  .  and  hf  wolde  for-lycgan  . 

gif  heo  pcet  bysmor  forberan  wolde  . 

Ac  ic  hrymde  sona  mid  sarlicre  '  stsemne  188 

oppcet  an  minra  wimmanna  ^me  witS  hine  ahredde  . 

Da  gelyfde  philippws  ]?sere  facen-fvllan  ^  segene  . 

and  swi(5e  gehdt-heort  .  *h6t  hi  ge-fseccan*  . 

and  eac  tSa  ge-brotSra  .  ealle  gebundene  .  192 

and  heold  hi  on  bendum  .  and  on  blindum  cwearterne  . 

d^cet  he  mid  wytum  .  pcet  wif  gewrsece  . 

pi  com  se  dseg  pe  se  dema  gessette  . 

and  weeron  gegeorcode  (sic)  J>d  retSan  wyta  .  196 

and  wurdon  gefeette  get-foran  pam  deman  . 

|5a  unscildigan  cristenan  .  on  swsertum  racentsegum  . 

Da  cwcet?  .  philippws  .  mid  fullum  graman  . 

^to  eugenian  his  agenre  dehter^  .  200 

Sege  Jju  forscyldeguda  hwl  woldest  tJu  beswican 

pcet  msere  wif  melantian  mid  forligre^ 

and  on  Iseces  hiwe  hi  forlicgan  woldest  . 

Da  cwse'S  eugenia  ^  .  pcet  heo  ^  eape  mihte  .  204 

J?8es  forlyres  ^  un-hlisan  hi  beladian  . 

and  melantian  onsage  mid  sotSe  ofer-drifan  . 

gif  philippws  wolde  gefaestnian  mid  a|3e  . 

poet  seo  lease  wrsegistre  ne  wurde  fordsemed  .  208 

Dd  swor  philippus  pcet  he  fritJian  wolde  . 

pa  leasan  wudewan  .  tJeah  pe  heo  gelignod  wur?5e  . 

pa  bsed  eugenia^  pcet  seo  wyln  sceolde 

ssecgan  Jjam  deman  hu  hit  gedon  wsere  .  212 

and  hu  heo  hyre  hlaefdian  wiS  hyre  lustas  ahrgedde . 

»  Leaf  10,  back.  2  ggg  j^g  Qtho,  B.  x.  fol.  11.  ^  facen-fullan  O. 

•-♦  het  gefeccan  ))one  abbod  0.  «"*  to  Jamabbode  j^ewaeshis  agen  dohtor  O. 

«  forligere  0.  '  se  abbod  0.  ^  he  O.  ^  forligerei  0. 


II.         SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  87 

Then  went  she  quickly  to  the  city  of  Alexandria, 
to  the  chief  ruler,  who  was  named  Philip, 
Eugenia's  father,  though  the  wicked  one  knew  it  not, 
and  began  to  accuse  her,  and  wished  to  speak  falsely, 
saying,  that  she  [Eugenia]  came  to  her  as  she  lay  in  bed 
in  a  physician's  garb,  and  desired  to  lie  with  her, 
if  she  would  put  up  with  that  shameful  deed. 
'But  I  cried  aloud  quickly  with  sorrowful  voice, 
until  one  of  my  women  delivered  me  from  him.' 
Then  Philip  believed  the  deceitful  story, 
aud  very  angrily  bade  her  be  fetched, 
and  the  brethren  likewise,  all  bound, 
and  kept  them  in  bonds,  and  in  a  dark  prison, 
until  he  with  torments  might  avenge  the  woman. 
Then  came  the  day  when  the  judge  took  his  seat, 
and  the  cruel  tortures  were  made  ready, 
and  then  there  were  brought  before  the  judge 
the  guiltless  Christians,  in  black  fetters. 
Then  quoth  Philip  with  great  anger 
to  Eugenia,  his  own  daughter, 

'  Say,  thou  condemned  one,  why  wouldst  thou  betray 
the  illustrious  woman,  Melantia,  to  adultery, 
and,  in  the  garb  of  a  physician,  wouldst  lie  with  her?" 
Then  quoth  Eugenia  that  she  could  easily 
clear  herself  from  the  disgrace  of  adultery, 
and  overcome  by  the  truth  Melantia's  accusation, 
provided  that  Philip  would  assure  her  by  an  oath 
that  the  false  (female)  accuser  should  not  be  condemned. 
Then  swore  Philip  that  he  would  let  go  free 
the  false  widow,  though  she  should  prove  to  be  perjured. 
Then  Eugenia  besought  that  the  servant  should 
relate  to  the  judge  how  it  came  to  pass, 

and  how  she  preserved  her  mistress  against  her  [Eugenia's]  de- 
sires. 


88  II.   NATALE   SANCTE   EUGENIE   UIEGINIS. 

and  se  gerefa  h6t  eac  ])A  cnihtas  .  melantian  hyredes  . 

cySan  be  Sison  gif  hi  pis  gehyrdon  . 

pa  cwseS  seo  wyln  .  pcet  heo  wyste  .  gefym  .  216 

hd  eugenia^  ferde  fracodlice  on  forlygre  . 

and  wolde  Ipi  set  nehstan  .  hyre  hlsefdian  gebysmrian  . 

butan  heo  mid  hreame  .  hyre  hrseddinge  ofclypode  . 

bis  witan  (sic)  pis  hyred-men  .  J)e  ic  J?ider  clypode  .  220 

Da  ssedon  J^a  hyred-menn  pcet  hit  sotS  wsere  . 

and  ealle  mid  a'Se  eugenian'*  forlugan  . 

pa  weartS  se  gersefa  .  Jjearle  gebolgen  . 

and  axude  eugenian  .  hu  heo  ana  mihte  224 

'  ealle  pa,  gewytan  awsegan  *  mid  a^e  . 

c'StJe  jjurh  senige  swutelunge  hi  sylfe  acleensian  . 

Hwset  ^i  eugenia  seo  8eJ?ele  fsemne  . 

cw0e?5  pcet  heo  wolde  hi  sylfe  be-diglian  ,  228 

and  criste  anum  hyre  clsennysse  healdan  . 

on  msegShade  wuniende  .  mannum  uncutS  . 

and  fort5y  underfsenge^  set  fruman  J)a  gyrlan  . 

wser-lices  hades  .  and  wurde  ge-efsod^  233 

JEfter  pyBMm  -wordum  heo  to-tser  hyre  gewsedu  . 

and  set-sewde ''  hyre  breost  .  J?am  breman  philippe  . 

and  cwsetS  him  t6  ^  .  pu.  eart  min  feeder  . 

and  Jsin  gebsedda  claudia  .  gebser  m6  to  mannum  ,  236 

and  tSds  Sine  gessetlan  synd  mine  gebro(5ra  . 

auitus  .  and  ssergius  .  and  ic  soSlice  eom 

eugenia  gehaten  .  Jjin  agen  dohtor  . 

and  ic  for  cristes  lufe  .  forlaet  ^  eow  ealle  .  240 

and  middan-eardlice  lustas  ^"swa  swk  meox  forseah'^ 

Her  synd  eac  pi  cnihtas  .  pe  ic  cydde  mine  digolnysse  . 

protus  .  et  iacinctus  .  ]?ine  fostercyld  . 

mid  tSam  ic  bec6m  to  cristes  scole  .  244 

and  ]58er  on  drohtnode  otS  J^isne  andwserden  dseg  . 

and  tSam  ic  wylle  eefre  o(S  ende  J^eowian  . 

1  se  abbod  O.  ^  ^^^^  5^^,^,^^  q  s  Leaf  i  I.  *  See  MS.  Otho, 

B.  X.  fol.  II,  back.  ^  underfeng  0.  *  ge-efesod  0.  ''  set-eowde  O. 

*  O,  om.  him  t(5.  '  forlet  0.  ""^o  ic  foraeali  swa  swa  meox  0. 


"II,    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  39 

Moreover  the  judge  commanded  the  servants  of  Melantia's  house- 
hold 
To  declare  this  matter,  if  they  had  heard  it. 
Then  said  the  servant  that  she  long  ago  knew 
how  vilely  Eugenia  practised  adultery, 
and  at  last  endeavoured  to  violate  her  mistress, 
but  she,  with  her  screaming,  cried  out  for  her  help; 
*this  these  servants  know,  whom  I  called  thither.' 
Then  said  the  servants  that  it  was  true, 
and  all  with  an  oath  lied  against  Eugenia. 
Then  was  the  governor  greatly  incensed, 
and  asked  Eugenia  how  she,  by  herself,  could 
turn  aside  with  an  oath  all  these  witnesses, 
or  by  any  manifestation  clear  herself  wholly. 
Well  then,  Eugenia,  the  noble  woman, 
said  that  she  had  desired  to  keep  herself  secret, 
and  to  preserve  her  purity  to  Christ  alone, 
living  in  virginity,  unknown  to  man, 
and  therefore  at  the  first  had  assumed  the  robes 
of  a  man's  garb,  and  had  had  her  hair  shorn. 
After  these  words  she  tare  apart  her  robes, 
and  revealed  her  breast  to  the  angry  Philip, 
and  said  unto  him :  '  Thou  art  my  father  ! 
and  thy  spouse  Claudia  bore  me  as  a  child, 
and  these  that  sit  beside  thee  are  my  brethren, 
Avitus  and  Sergius,  and  verily  I  am 
named  Eugenia,  thine  own  daughter. 
And  I,  for  Christ's  love,  abandoned  you  all, 
and  despised  as  dung  the  lusts  of  the  world. 
Here  are  also  the  servants  to  whom  I  told  my  secret, 
Protus  and  Jacinctus,  thy  foster-children, 
with  whom  I  went  to  the  school  of  Christ, 
and  therein  have  ministered  unto  this  present  day, 
and  Him  will  I  serve  ever,  even  unto  the  end.' 


40  II.   NATALE  SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINTS. 

Di  oncneow  philippus  swA  sw4  feeder  eugenian  . 

and    auitus  .  and  ssergius  .  hyra  agene  swyster  .  248 

and  hyra  hyred-cnihtas  .  hi  eadmodlice  cyston  . 

pis  weartS  sona  gecyd  .  claudian  .  ^J^sere  mseder*  . 

and  heo  mid  wundrunge  wearcS  befangen  . 

and  to  eugenian'*  com  mid  ealre  blysse  .  252 

Hi  Ipi  gefretewodon  .  J?a  fsemnan  mid  golde 

hyre  un-]7ances  .  and  up  ^  gessetton  to  him  . 

pa  clypode  Jjaet  folc  .  pcet  crist  wsere  sotS  god  . 

and  hi  ealle  herodon  Jjonne  hselend  mid  wuldre  .  356 

Eugenia  hsefde  aer  geJ?ingod  . 

Jjsere  leasan  melantian  to  hyre  leofan  feeder  . 

pcet  heo  mid  wytum  ne  awrse'ce  hyre  welhreowan  ehtnysse  . 

ac  crist  sylf*  asende  swsegende  fyr  260 

ufan  of  heofonum  .  Jjset  menn  onhawoden 

^to  melantian  botle  .  and  hit  mid  ealle  forbernde  . 

Bwk  ])cet  t5aer  nses  to  lafe  nantSing  Jje  hyre  wses  . 

pa  wurdon  gefullode  .  philippus  .  and  claudia  .  264 

and  heora  twsegen  suna  .  mid  sotSum  geleafan  . 

and  seo  mseste  mseniu  .  Jjses  mennisces  gebeah  . 

to  cristas  bigengum  .  and  pA  cristenan  gegododon  . 

Di  wurdon  gesedniwode  on  tSam  eahteotSan  geare  .  268 

J?d  for-lgetenan  cyrcan  .  and  seo  geleafifulnyss  weox  . 

Philippus  pa,  asende  to  seu6ro  ]?am  casere  . 

and  ssede  pcet  pi,  cristenan  switSe  fremoden  . 

his  cynerice  .  and  romaniscere  leode  .  272 

and  hi  wsel  wyr?5e  wseron  .  poet  hi  wunodon  butan  sehtnysse 

on  tSaere  ylcan  byrig  .  pe  h6  hi  ser  of  adrsefde  . 

pa  geJ)afode  se  casere  pcet  ?5am  gersefan  . 

and  alexandria  seo  burh  sona  wearcS  afylled  276 

mid  myccluw.  cristen-dome  .  and  manegum  cyrcum  . 

and  on  ge-hwylcum  burgum  .  blissoden  pk  cristenan  . 

and  mid  wurtSfulnysse  .  god  wurt5odon  . 

Eac  for  Jjysum  intingan  .  pcet  segyptisce  folc  .  280 

'■^  hire  meder  O.  ^  hire  dohtor  O,  ^  jjj  yp  q  i  jjgj.g  g^jg 

the  fragment  in  MS.  0.  *  Leaf  11,  back. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  41 

Then  Philip,  as  a  father,  recognised  Eugenia, 

and  Avitus  and  Sergius  knew  their  own  sister, 

and  her  household-servants  humbly  kissed  her. 

This  was  soon  told  to  Claudia  her  mother, 

and  she  was  seized  with  wonder, 

and  came  to  Eugenia  with  all  joy. 

Then  they  adorned  the  virgin  with  gold, 

though  she  was  unwilling,  and  set  her  up  beside  themselves. 

Then  the  people  exclaimed  that  Christ  was  true  God, 

and  they  all  praised  the  Saviour  with  glory. 

Eugenia  ere  this  had  already  interceded 

for  the  false  Melantia  to  her  dear  father, 

(saying)  that   she  would   not    avenge  with    torments    her   cruel 

persecution. 
But  Christ  himself  sent  a  rushing  fire 
from  heaven  above,  which  all  men  saw, 
to  the  house  of  Melantia,  and  burnt  it  all  up, 
so  that  there  was  left  nothing  that  was  hers. 
Then  were  Philip  and  Claudia  baptized, 
and  their  two  sons,  with  true  faith. 

And  a  very  great  multitude  of  the  people  were  converted 
to  Christ's  service,  and  enriched  the  Christians. 
Then  were  restored,  in  the  eighth  year, 
the  deserted  churches,  and  the  faith  increased. 
Then  sent  Philip  to  Severus  the  emperor, 
and  said  that  the  Christians  greatly  benefited 
his  kingdom  and  the  Roman  people, 
and  they  were  well  worthy  of  living  unpersecuted 
in  the  very  city  whence  he  before  had  banished  them. 
Then  the  emperor  granted  this  boon  to  the  governor, 
and  Alexandria  city  was  soon  filled 
with  much  Christian  people,  and  many  churches; 
and  in  every  town  the  Christians  rejoiced, 
and  with  due  worship  honoured  God, 
as  well  as  for  this  cause,  that  Egyptian  folk. 


42  II.    NATALE   SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

for-lsetenum  gedwylde  .  gelyfde  6n  drihten  , 

And  philippus  forgeaf  feela  eahta  p&m  cristenum  . 

him  to  gemsenan  brice  .  and  hi  gemundode  . 

jiEfter  Jjisum  gelamp  .  Ipcef  tSa  leasan  hgecSenan  .  284 

wrsegdon  philippum  .  to  tSam  fore-sseden  casere 

Bsedon  pcet  he  forl6te  J)a  lifiendan  godas  . 

and  ealle  Jja  burh-warse  ge-bigde  to  criste  . 

J? A  weartS  se  casere  sona  ge-yrsod  .  288 

and  behead  philippe  .  Ipcet  he  huge  to  his  godum  . 

otStSe  wsere  be-nsemed  .  wurt5-scipes  .  and  eehta  . 

pd  dselde  philippMS  digollice  his  sehta  . 

geond  ealle  ]?a  scyre  cyrcum  .  and  J^earfum  .    '  292 

and  }3urh  mycelne  geleafan  ,  manega  otSre  getrymode  . 

swd  ])cet  Sa  cristenan  hine  gecuron  to  bisceope  . 

D4  sdfter  twaelf  mon'Sum  gemunde  se  casere 

hwset  him  gesse'd  waes  .  and  ssende  tv&m  rome  .  296 

otSerne  gerefan  .  mid  retSum  bebode  . 

swd  pcet  h6  ^  h6t  acwellan  |?one  cristenan  philippuw  . 

gif  hit  sots  wsere  .  swd  him  gesaed  wses  . 

Da  com  ee  gerefa  .  and  hine  acwsellan  ne  dorste  .  300 

on  ]33es  folces  gewytnysse  for  heora  freond-rsedene  . 

dc  asende  sume  .  Jje  esedon  pcet  hi  wseran 

on  criste  ge-lyfede  .  6c  hi  lugon  swd  }?eah  . 

Dd  eoden  to  cyrcean  mid  swiSlicum  facne .  304 

and  tSone  mseran  biscop  .  on  his  ge-bsedum  ofslogan  . 

Ac  he  wunade  swd  tSeah  on  pam  wundum  cucu  . 

geond  J?reora  daga  faec  .  and  gefrefrode  ])&  cristenan  . 

and  swd  mid  martyr-dome  .  sijsjjan  gewdt .  308 

to  ?Sam  lifigendan  drihtne  Ipe  he  on  life  wurSode  . 

Eugenia  hsefde  .  ser  Jjdn  asteald 

mynecena  mynster  .  mid  mycelre  gehealdsumnysse  . 

and  seo  modor  claudia  .  hit  micclum  gegodode  .  312 

and  hi  Jja^r  be-byrgdon  J7one  bisceop  philippum  . 

and  hi  sij^j^an  ealle  endemes  fserdon  . 

seo  modor  .  and  seo  dohtor  to  tSsere  mseran  rome  byrig  . 

^  Leaf  12. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,   VIRGIN.  43 

having  forsaken  their  error,  believed  in  the  Lord. 

And  Philip  gave  the  Christians  many  possessions 

for  their  common  use,  and  well  protected  them. 

After  this  it  came  to  pass  that  the  false  heathen 

accused  Philip  to  the  aforesaid  emperor, 

and  said  that  he  renounced  the  living  gods, 

and  inclined  all  the  citizens  unto  Christianity. 

Then  was  the  emperor  forthwith  enraged, 

and  commanded  Philip  to  worship  his  gods, 

or  he  should  be  deprived  of  honour  and  goods. 

Then  Philip  secretly  distributed  his  goods 

throughout  all  the  province,  to  churches  and  needy  men, 

and  by  his  great  faith  confirmed  many  others, 

so  that  the  Christians  chose  him  as  bishop. 

Then  after  twelve  months  the  emperor  remembered 

what  had  been  told  him,  and  sent  from  Kome 

another  governor,  with  a  severe  command, 

so  that  he  bade  him  kill  the  Christian  Philip, 

if  it  were  true,  as  had  been  told  him. 

Then  came  the  governor,  and  durst  not  kill  him 

in  the  witness  of  the  people,  because  of  their  friendliness; 

but  he  sent  (to  him)  certain  men,  who  said  they  were 

believers  in  Christ;  nevertheless  they  lied. 

Then  went  these  men  to  church  with  great  deceit, 

and  slew  the  illustrious  bishop  at  his  prayers. 

Nevertheless  he  remained  alive  after  the  wounds 

for  the  space  of  three  days,  and  comforted  the  Christians, 

and  so,  with  martyrdom,  he  afterwards  departed 

to  the  living  Lord,  whom  he  worshipped  in  his  life. 

Eugenia  ere  this  had  already  founded 

a  minster  for  nuns,  with  much  devotion, 

and  her  mother  Claudia  enriched  it  greatly; 

and  there  they  buried  Philip  the  bishop ; 

and  afterwards  they  all  departed  together, 

mother  and  daughter,  to  the  great  city  of  Rome, 


44  II.    NATALE    SANCTE   EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

and  t5d  gebrotSru  samod  .  ssergius  .  and  auitus  .  316 

and  J)a  romauiscan  wytan  .  hi  w61  under-fsengon  . 
and  for  Jjaere  ealdan  cycStJe  Jjaes  setSelan  philippes  . 
pa  gesaetton  p&  wytan  sona  Ipa,  cnihtas  . 

on  twam  heafod-burgum  .  on  healicum  wurS-mynte  .  320 

senne  on  affrican  .  and  oSerne  on  cartagine  . 
Eugenia  pk  wunode  6n  rome  . 
and  hire  coman  to  gehwylce  msedenu  . 

and  heo  hi  gebegde  mid  hyre  gebysnunge  to  criste  .  324 

and  hi  on  maegS-hade  wunodon  .  J?urh  hyre  mynegunge  . 
pa  wses  on  rome  byrig  sum  cyne-boren  maeden  . 
basilla  gehaten  .  on  hseSen-scype  wunigende  . 
seo  wolde  gehyran  J?d  halgan  lare  .  328 

of  eugenian  mu]?e  .  dc  heo  ne  mihte  hire  genealecean  . 
fortSan  J)e  cristen-dom  waes  .  ]?aer  onscunigend-lic  . 
Da  sonde  eugenia  J^a  twsegen  haPgan  . 

protum  .  and  iacinctum  .  to  tSam  hae'Senen  msedene  .  332 

Hwset  ])k  basilla  mid  blysse  .  hi  under-faeng  . 
and  deges  .  and  nihtes  mid  pam  deorwurSum  halgum 
godes  lare  be-eode  .  and  hyre  gebseda  ne  ge-swAc  . 
otStSset  Cornelius  .  ]?aera  cristenra  biscop  336 

hi  dearnunga  gefuUode  .  fram  eallum  fulnyssum  . 
pa  wurdon  gelome  J?a  leofan  msedenu  . 
Eugenia  .  and  basilla  .  and  eac  se  biscop  . 

on  sunder-spraece  .  switSe  gebysgode  .  340 

and  digel-lice  on  nihtum  .  hi  symble  .  geneosodon 
and  haefdon  heora  gerihtu  .  mid  ]5am  halgen  biscope  . 
purh  tSas  twd  maedena  .  manega  o(5re  becoman 
to  cristes  geleafan  .  and  to  claenre  drohtnunge  .  344 

Durh  claudian  becoman  eac  claene  wudewan  . 
mid  godum  wyllan  .  to  godes  geleafan  . 
and  fsela  cnihta  on  crist  gelyfden  . 

Jjurh  tSd  twaegen  halgan  .  protum  .  et  iacinctum  .  348 

Basilla  haefde  enne  haecSene  wogere  . 
pompeius  gecyged  .  switSe  aetSel-boren  . 
*  Leaf  12,  back. 


II.    SAINT  EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  45 

and  the  brothers  also,  Serglus  and  Avitus. 

And  the  Roman  senators  well  received  them, 

as  well  as  for  their  old  acquaintance  with  the  noble  Philip. 

Then  very  soon  the  senators  appointed  the  youths 

to  two  chief  cities,  in  conspicuous  honour, 

one  in  Africa,  and  the  other  in  Carthage. 

Then  Eugenia  dwelt  in  Rome, 

and  there  came  to  her  many  maidens, 

and  she,  by  her  example,  converted  them  to  Christ, 

and  they  dwelt  in  virginity,  by  her  exhortation. 

Then  was  there  a  maiden  in  Rome,  of  royal  birth, 

named  Basilla,  living  in  heathendom, 

who  desired  to  hear  the  holy  lore 

at  the  mouth  of  Eugenia,  but  she  could  not  approach  her, 

because  Christianity  was  there  held  in  abhorrence. 

Then  Eugenia  sent  the  two  saints, 

Protus  and  Jacinctus,  to  the  heathen  maid. 

Well  then,  Basilla  received  them  with  joy, 

and,  day  and  night,  with  the  love-worthy  saints, 

learnt  God's  lore,  and  never  ceased  from  her  prayers, 

until  Cornelius,  bishop  of  the  Christians, 

secretly  baptized  her,  [washing  her]  from  all  filth. 

Then  were  frequently  the  dear  maidens, 

Eugenia  and  Basilla,  and  likewise  the  bishop, 

much  employed  in  private  conversation, 

and  secretly  by  night  they  often  visited  him, 

and  performed  their  duties  with  the  holy  bishop. 

By  means  of  the  two  maidens  many  others  turned 

to  faith  in  Christ,  and  to  a  pure  service. 

By  Claudia's  means  also  pure  widows 

turned  with  good  will  to  faith  in  God ; 

and  many  youths  believed  in  Christ 

by  means  of  the  two  saints,  Protus  and  Jacinctus. 

Basilla  had  a  heathen  suitor, 

named  Pompeius,  of  very  noble  birth, 


46  II.    NATALE   SANCTE   EUGENIE  UIRGINIS. 

])&m  ge-u?Se  s6  casere  .  IpcBt  kyneborene  mseden  . 
dc  heo  hsefde  gecoren  crist  hyre  to  bryd-guman  .  352 

and  Jjone  hsetSenan  wogere  iorpi  habban  nolde  . 
pd  gesohte  se  cniht  Ipxa  kaseres  f^tt  . 
and  jja  romaniscan  wytan  mid  wop-licre  ceorunge 
him  mid  sprsecon  .  and  Sd  msedena  wregdon  .  356 

eugenian  .  and  basillan  .  biddende  his  fultumes  . 
Hwset  pi  Be  casere  cwsetS  him  to  andsware  . 
'pcet  basilla  sceolde  gebtigan  to  tJam  cnihte  . 
oppe  hi  man  to-heowe  .  mid  heardum  swurde  on  twd  .  360 

And  eugenian  h6  h6t  his  godum  geoffrian  . 
o'SSe  hi  man  mid  wytum  w6lreowlice  acwealde  . 
He  het  eac  acwsellan  .  ealle  J)a  cristenan  . 

gif  hi  noldon  bugan  to  Sam  bysmorfullum  hse?5en-scype  .         364 
pd  nolde  basilla  .  brydguman  geeeosan  . 
nsenne  butan  crist  J?e  heo  gecoren  ^hsefde  . 
and  weartS  pi  gemartyrod  .  for  hyre  maegcShade  . 
set  hdm  on  hire  huse  .  mid  heardum  sweorde  ,  368 

JEfter  pjsum  wordum  .  ]?a  twsegen  godes  halgan  . 
protMS  .  and  iacinctus  .  wurdon  sona  gelsehte  . 
and  hi  sceoldon  geoffrian  .  heora  Idc  J^am  godum  . 
otSSe  hi  Bylfe  sceoldon  .  him  beon  geoffrode  .  372 

Hi  wurdon  pi  gelsedde  .  t6  J^sere  latSan  dnlicnysse  . 
dc  heo  to-feol  sona  to  heora  fotum  for-molsnod  . 
sw^  racSe  swd  pi  halgan  hi  to  gode  gebsedon  . 
pa  cwsej)  se  dema  .  pcet  hi  mid  dry-crsefte  .  376 

pi  anlicnyssa  to-wurpon  .  and  wearS  ge-bolgen  . 
H6t  pi  be-hsefdian  tSa  halgan  cytSeras  . 
and  hi  swd  ferdon  .  mid  sige  t6  criste  . 

Dds  martyras  nseron  nsefre  on  life  380 

Jjurh  wif  besmytene  .  dc  hi  wunedon  on  clsennysse  . 
ot5  heora  lifes  sende  .  mid  mycclum  geleafan  . 
^ffcer  pjanm  weartJ  ge-leaht  seo  geleaffulla  eugenia  . 
and  to  pam  hsetSenan  temple  getogen  mid  ge-Sreate  .  384 

pcet  heo  f>8ere  gydenan  diane  .  godes  wurtSmynt  gebude  . 

*  Leaf  13. 


II.   SAINT  EUGENIA,   VIRGIN.  47 

to  whom  the  emperor  granted  the  royal  maid. 
But  she  had  chosen  Christ  for  her  bridegroom, 
and  therefore  would  not  accept  the  heathen  suitor. 
Then  the  youth  sought  the  feet  of  the  emperor, 
and  the  Roman  senators,  with  tearful  complaint, 
and  communed  with  them,  and  accused  the  vii'gins, 
Eugenia  and  Basilla,  praying  for  his  aid. 
Well  then,  the  emperor  said  to  him  in  answer, 
that  Basilla  would  have  to  incline  to  the  youth, 
or  men,  with  a  hard  sword,  should  hew  her  in  twain. 
And  he  bade  Eugenia  offer  sacrifice  to  his  gods, 
or  men,  with  torments,  should  cruelly  kill  her. 
He  also  bade  all  the  Christians  be  slain, 
if  they  would  not  return  to  vile  heathendom. 
Then  would  not  Basilla  choose  as  her  bridegroom  , 
any  other  but  Christ,  whom  she  had  chosen, 
and  thereupon  was  martyred  for  her  virginity 
at  home  in  her  house,  with  a  hard  sword. 
After  these  words  the  two  saints  of  God 
Protus  and  Jacinctus,  were  soon  caught, 
and  they  had  to  offer  their  sacrifice  to  the  gods, 
or  else  they  must  themselves  be  offered  unto  them. 
Then  were  they  led  to  the  loathsome  idol, 
but  it  at  once  fell  at  their  feet,  as  if  crumbled  to  pieces, 
as  soon  as  the  saints  said  their  prayers  to  God. 
Then  said  the  judge  that  they  by  the  aid  of  sorcery 
had  overthrown  the  images,  and  was  much  incensed. 
Then  he  bade  the  holy  witnesses  be  beheaded, 
and  quickly  they  departed  victoriously  to  Christ. 
These  martyrs  were  never,  throughout  their  lives, 
defiled  with  women,  but  continued  in  purity 
unto  their  lives'  end,  with  much  faith. 
After  this  the  faithful  Eugenia  was  caught, 
and  dragged,  with  threatening,  to  the  heathen  temple, 
that  she   might  offer  the  worship,  due  to  God,   to   the   goddess 
Diana. 


48  II.    NATALE    SANCTE    EUGENIE    UIRGINIS. 

D4  gebsed  eugenia  .  hi  to  'Sam  selmihtigan  gode  . 
and  Ipcet  deofles  tempel  .  grund-lunga  to-feoll  . 
and  on  eorcSan  besanc  .  mid  eallum  his  anlicnyssum  .  388 

pd  het  se  casere  .  ahon  anne  weorc-stdn  . 
on  hyre  halgan  swuran  .  and  hi  bescufan  on  Sa  ea  . 
Eac  s6  stdn  to-baerst  .  and  heo  sset  up  on  J?am  wsetere  . 
])cet  (54  cristenan  tocneowan  Ipcet  crist  wses  mid  hyre  .  392 

set5e  hwilon  ser  ]?one  halgan  petrum  , 
be  'Ssere  handa  gelsedde  .  upp  on  ]3am  heagan  brymme  . 
\)cet  poet  Sa  saelican  y?5a  hine  forswelgan  ne  mihton  . 
Dd,  h6t  se  casere  hi  sitStSan  bescufan  396 

on  byrnende  ofen  .  ]?8er  ]?ser  bate  bacSu  wseron  . 
ac  jjset  fyr  wear?5  acwsenced  .  and  pi  batSu  acolode  . 
and  ealle  ?5a  ontendnyssa  .  mid  hyre  to-cyme  adwsescte  . 
Heo  weartS  pi  gebroht  .  into  blindum  cwearterne  .  400 

and  geond  twsentig  Maga  .  hyre  nses  getytSod 
seniges  big-leofan  binnan  <5am  Jjeostrum  . 
Ac  se  hselend  com  mid  heofonlicum  leohte  . 

and  brohte  (Sam  msedene  .  mserne  big-leofon  .  404 

snaw-hwitne  hldf  .  and  on-lihte  'Sset  cweartern  . 
pa  cwse'S  se  hselend  to  Sam  halgan  msedene  . 
Eala  Su  eugenia  .  ne  beo  J)u  afyrht  . 

Ic  eom  J)in  hselend  .  pe  ]ju  healice  wurSost  .  408 

and  mid  eallum  mode  .  and  meegne  lufast  . 

On  ]3am  dsege  j?a  scealt  cuman  to  me  .  pe  ic  com  to  mannum  . 
and  on  minre  gebyrd-tide  .  Su  bist  on  heofonum  gebroht  . 
pd  com  se  cwsellere  .  on  cristes  akenned-nysse  dsege  .  412 

dsend  fram  ]?am  casere  .  and  he  pcet  mseden  acwealde  . 
Heo  wearS  J?a  gemartyrod  .  and  cristene  menn  hi  bebyrgdon  . 
Da  weop  seo  modor  .  mid  mycelre  sarnysse  . 
set  hyre  byrgene  ,  o]3  pcet  heo  hi  geseah  .  416 

on  gastlicre  gesihtSe  .  mid  golde  gefrsetewode 
mid  Sam  heofonlicum  werode  .  Jjus  hi  frefrigende  . 
Mfn  modor  claudia  .  me  hsefS  gebroht 

min  hselend  crist  .  to  his  halgena  blysse  .  420 

*  Leaf  1 3,  back. 


II.    SAINT   EUGENIA,    VIRGIN.  49 

Then  prayed  Eugenia  to  the  Almighty  God, 

and  the  temple  of  the  devil  fell  utterly  to  the  ground, 

and  sank  into  the  earth,  with  all  its  idols. 

Then  the  emperor  bade  men  hang  a  hewn  stone 

about  her  saintly  neck,  and  throw  her  into  the  river. 

Even  the  stone  brake  in  twain,  and  she  sat  upon  the  water, 

that  the  Christians  might  know  that  Christ  was  with  her, 

even  He  who  whilom  led  the  holy  Peter 

by  the  hand  along,  over  the  lofty  surge, 

that  the  ocean  billows  might  not  swallow  him  up. 

Then  the  emperor  bade  men  next  to  east  her 

into  a  burning  oven,  where  were  hot  baths, 

but  the  fire  was  quenched,  and  the  baths  cooled  down, 

and  all  the  conflagration  was  extinct  at  her  coming. 

Then  was  she  thrown  into  a  dark  prison, 

and  for  the  space  of  twenty  days  there  was  not  granted  her 

any  sort  of  sustenance,  amid  the  darkness. 

But  the  Saviour  came,  with  a  heavenly  light, 

and  brought  the  maiden  abundant  sustenance, 

a  snow-white  loaf,  and  illuminated  the  prison. 

Then  said  the  Saviour  to  the  holy  maiden, 

'  Behold !  Eugenia  !  be  not  thou  affrighted. 

I  am  thy  Saviour,  whom  thou  highly  honourest 

and  whom  with  all  thy  mind  and  strength  thou  lovest. 

On  that  day  shalt  thou  come  to  me,  when  I  became  man. 

And    on    the    day   of   My    nativity    thou    shalt    be    brought    to 

heaven.' 
Then  came  the  executioner,  on  the  day  of  Christ's  birth, 
sent  from  the  emperor,  and  he  killed  the  maiden ; 
so  was  she  martyred,  and  Christian  men  buried  her. 
Then  wept  her  mother  with  much  sorrow 
at  her  burial,  until  at  last  she  saw  her 
in  a  ghostly  vision,  adorned  with  gold, 
with  the  heavenly  host,  thus  comforting  her : 
*  My  mother  Claudia,  me  hath  my  Saviour 
Christ  brought  to  the  bliss  of  His  saints, 

4 


50  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

and  minne  feeder  gelogode  on  psdve  heah-faedera  getele  . 

and  ]?u  cymst  to  us  .  nu  on  sunuan-dseg  . 

Sec  modor  gewkt  tJa  of  worulde  to  heofonuw 

on  tSam  sunnan-dsege  .  and  Jja  suna  hi  be-stodon  .  424 

Sergius  .  and  Auitus  .  and  hi  sicStSan  Jsurh-wunodon  . 

on  ?Jam  sotSan  geleafan  .  ot5  heora  lifes  ende  . 

Sy  wuldor  .  and  lof  .  J^am  wel-wyllendan  drihtne  . 

on  ealra  worulda  woruld  .  ealra  his  wel-dseda  .     Amen.  428 

III. 

KALENDAS  IANUAR7/.    DEPOSITIO   SANCTI  BASILII 

EPISCOPI. 

[Various  readings  are  given  from  0  (MS.  Otho,  B.  x,  fol.  3,  &c.)  and  from  V 
(MS.Vitellius,  D.  xvii.  fol.  79,  back,  &c.);  see  also  the  note  to  1.  334,  p.  70. 
Both  MSS.  are  much  injured  by  fire.] 

BASILIVS   WES   GE-HATEN  ^   SVM   HALIG   BISCOP  ^  . 
se  waes  fram  cyld-hade  .  switJe  ge-healdsum  . 
|>eah  J)e  he  to  langum  fyrste  .  un-ge-fullod  wsere  . 
His  feeder  .  and  his  frynd  hine  be-fsestan  to  ^lare  4 

to  woruld-wis-dome  .  tSa  J3a  he  syfon  wyntre  waes  . 
forj^an  J^e  on  }3am  timan  ne  teah  nan  setSel-borennysse  . 
ngenne  man  to  \vurt5-scype  .  butan  he  wisdom  . 
ser  tSam  lange  leornode  set  gelseredum  ut5wytum  .  8 

pa  wunode  se  cnoeplingc  on  cappadoniscre  byrig  . 
fif  gedr  on  lare  .  and  fserde  to  grecum  . 
to  atheniscre  byrig  .  seo  wses  p&  bremost  *  on  l^re  . 
and  eubolus  se  utS-wyta  .  pe  J^ger  yldost  waes  on  wysdome  .      12 
underfseng^  fjonne  enapan  .  swA  swd,  he  frymdig  wses  . 
to  larlicre  scole  .  and  he  leornode  J)4 
swd  pcet  t5a  utSwytan  .  his  andgytes  wundrodon  . 
On  Jjgere  ylcan  scole  wses  seo  wselreowa  iulianus  .  16 

cristen  fram  cyld-hade  .  se  weartS  casere  sitS^an  . 
and  awearp  his  ge-leafan  .  and  ge-wende  to  deofle  . 
Eac  fiser  leornode  .  on  Ipssre  ylcan  scole  . 

*  haten  O.  ^  bisceop  O.  ^  Leaf  14.  *  brymest  V. 

"  underfeng  V. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  51 

and  hath  placed  my  father  among  the  number  of  the  patriarchs, 

and  thou  shalt  come  to  us,  now  on  Sunday.' 

Then  departed  the  mother  from  the  world  to  heaven 

on  the  Sunday,  and  her  sons  stood  beside  her, 

Sergius  and  Avitus,  and  they  afterwards  continued 

in  the  true  faith,  imto  their  lives'  end. 

Be  glory  and  praise  to  the  gracious  God, 

world  without  end,  for  all  His  benefits.     Amen. 

III. 

JANUARY  I.     SAINT  BASILIUS,   BISHOP. 

A  certain  holy  bishop  was  named  Basil, 

who  from  childhood  was  very  continent, 

although  for  a  long  period  he  was  unbaptized. 

His  father  and  his  friends  committed  him  to  learning 

and  to  worldly  wisdom  when  he  was  seven  years  [old], 

because  at  that  time  no  nobility  exalted 

any  man  to  honour,  unless  he  had  learned  wisdom 

for  a  long  time  beforehand  of  learned  philosophers. 

Then  the  stripling  dwelt  in  the  Cappadocian  city 

five  years  while  learning,  and  went  to  Greece 

to    the   Athenian    city,    which    was    then   the   most   famous    in 

learning. 
And    Eubolus    the   philosopher,  who  was  there  the  foremost    in 

wisdom, 
received  the  boy,  because  he  was  inquisitive, 
into  his  erudite  school,  and  he  learned  there 
so  well  that  the  philosophers  wondered  at  his  understanding. 
In  the  same  school  was  the  cruel  Julian, 
a  Christian  from  childhood,  who  afterwards  became  Emperor, 
and  renounced  his  faith,  and  turned  to  the  devil. 
Also  there  learned  in  the  same  school 

4-2 


52  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILH    EPISCOPI. 

se  8et5ela  Gregorius  se  tSe  eft  wear's  biscop  .  20 

and  fsela^  wundra  worhta  {sic)  .  swd  swd  wyrd-wryteres  secga'S  . 

Basilius  Sa  wunode  mid  p&va.  u]3-wytan 

on  lare  ealles  fiftyne  gser. 

and  eallne'^  Jione  wysdom  wundorlice  asmeade  .  24 

pe  grecisce  larewas  ^  him  Iseran  cucSan  . 

Ac  seo  Idr  ne  mihte  ,  \>e  butan  ge-leafan  wses  . 

)5am  cneortS-lsecendum  cnihte  cySan  be  his  scyppende  . 

Jjonne  J?e  he  sohte  .  J?eah  J?e  heo  him  secgan  ne  cuSe^.  28 

Him  becom  pA  on  mod  |?urh  mynegunge  godes  . 

\)CBt  heo^  sceolde  secan  ]7a  soSan  lare  . 

on  cristenum  bocum  .  be  his  scyppende  . 

Hwaet  ]?d  basilius  .  bliSlice®  ferde  .  32 

to  egypta  lande  .  and  Jjser  leornode  twelf  monatS  . 

on  halguw  bocum  .  be  ]?0es  hselendes  faere  . 

hu  he  }?isne  middan-eard  mid  him  sylfum  alysde  . 

iEfter  geares  fyrste  .  ferde  him  eft  ongean  :  36 

to  his  ealdan  lareowe  .  and  Iserde  hine  be  criste 

hu  mild-heort-lice  he  alysde  mancynn  ''on  rode  . 

and  hu  h6  of  deaSe  ards  .  on  tSam  ]5riddan  dcege  : 

and  to  heofonum  astdh  .  to  his  halgan  feeder  .  40 

Eubolus^  se  uSwyta®  Ipi  wearS 

swd  myccluwi  of-lyst  .  basilies  lare  . 

\)cet  him  ne  hlyste^°  nanes  metes  . 

dc  hi  smeadon  .  tSry  dagas  .  swiSe  smea-]3ancollice  .  44 

ymbe  pcet  6ce  lif  ,  and  setes  ne  gymdon  . 

pd  gelyfde  se  uSwyta  ,  on  ]?onne  selmihtigan  god  . 

and  be-tsehte  his  sehta  .  ealle  basilie  . 

cwsetS  pcBt  h6  sefre  wolde  wunian  mid  him  .  48 

Basilius  ]?.4  herede  J)one  hselend  mid  wordum  . 

and  cwsetS  to  eubole  his  ealdan  lareowe  . 

Uton  nu  aspendan  .  ure  speda  on  Jjearfum  . 

and  swd  mid  ge-bylde  bugan  to  fuUuhte  .  52 

»  feolaV.  2  ealneV.  ^  lareowas  V.        *  cu^enV.  "  he  V, 

•  blilSelice  V.  ''  Leaf  14,  back.  '  V.  inserts  t5a.  '  u'Swite  V. 

^^  ]ysteY  (correctly). 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,   BISHOP.  53 

the  noble  Gregory,  he  who  afterwards  became  bishop, 

and  wrought  many  miracles,  even  as  historians  relate. 

Then  Basil  dwelt  with  the  philosopher 

during  his  learning,  fifteen  years  in  all, 

and  wonderfully  searched  into  all  the  wisdom 

which  the  Greek  doctors  knew  how  to  teach  him. 

But  the  teaching  which  was  without  faith  could  not 

inform  the  studious  youth  concerning  his  Creator 

whom  he  was  seeking,  though  that  teaching  could  not  tell  him. 

It  came  then  into  his  mind,  through  the  warning  of  God, 

that  he  ought  to  seek  the  true  lore 

concerning  his  Creator  in  Christian  books. 

Whereupon  Basil  blithely  departed 

to  the  land  of  the  Egyptians,  and  there  learned  twelve  months 

in  holy  books  concerning  the  Saviour's  life, 

how  He  redeemed  this  world  by  Himself. 

After  the  space  of  a  year  he  returned  again 

to  hia  old  master,  and  taught  him  concerning  Christ, 

how  compassionately  He  redeemed  mankind  on  the  cross, 

and  how  He  arose  from  death  on  the  third  day, 

and  ascended  to  Heaven  to  His  Holy  Father. 

Then  Eubolua  the  philosopher  became 

so  greatly  desirous  of  Basil's  doctrine 

that  he  had  no  wish  for  any  meat, 

but  they  meditated  three  days  very  searchingly 

about  the  eternal  Life,  and  took  no  heed  of  food. 

Then  the  philosopher  believed  on  the  Almighty  God, 

and  delivered  all  his  property  to  Basil, 

saying  that  he  desired  ever  to  dwell  with  him. 

Basil  then  praised  the  Saviour  with  words, 

and  said  to  Eubolus,  his  old  master, 

'  Let  us  now  bestow  our  goods  on  the  poor, 

and  then  with  boldness  submit  to  baptism, 


54  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

alysde  fram  bendum  .  J^isseve  leasan  worulde  . 

D4  dydon  'Sa  wytan  .  sw^  swd,  him  bam  ge-wear(5  . 

dseldon  heora  sehta  .  ealle  jjearfum  . 

and  ferdon  to  hierusalem  .  fulluht  secende  .  56 

and  manega  h8e(5ena  manna  .  j^urh  hi 

gc-bugan  .  to  drihtne  .  mid  ge-leafan  on-bryrde  . 

Hi  coman  Sa  siSSan  to  ^sere  fore-ssedan  byrig 

hierusalem  .  fiser  se  hselend  (Srowade  ^  .  60 

and  ge-sohtan^  Jjone  biscop  .  pe  'Sa  burh  bewystc  . 

baedon  fuUuhtes  .  set  his  fotum  licgende  . 

Se  biscop  wses  halig  waer  .  ge-haten  maximinus  . 

and  wel-wyllend-lice  hym  ge-tycSode  .  Jjses  'Se  hi  ge-wylnodon  .  64 

and  sona  hym  mid  ferde  .  to  f)8ere  [flowendan^]  ik 

iordanis  ge-haten  .  on  pvere  wses  seo  *  hselend  ge-fuUod  . 

Hwset  Sa  basilius  hine  to  eorj^an  astrsehte  . 

and  mid  wope  gewylnode  .  sum  gewis  tacen  set  gode  .  68 

his  geleafan  to  trymminge  .  and  alede  his  rte'f  . 

on  Jjgera  ^4  ofre  .  &  eode  in  nacod  . 

pa  ge-nealsehte  seo  biscop  .  and  mid  bletsunge  hine  gefullode  . 

Efne  \>a.  fserlice  .  com  fyr  of  heofonum  .  72 

and  dn  scinen^de  culfre  .  scse't"  of  }?am  fyre  . 

into  tSsere  6A  .  and  astyrede  tSset  wseter  . 

fleah  sijjjjan  upp  .  fort5rihte  to  heofonum  . 

and  basilius  eode  .  of  |?sem  fant-batSe  sona  .  76 

and  seo  biscop  hine  be-wsefde  .  wundriende  J^ses  tacnes  . 

He  gefullode  eac  si'S'San  .  ]?onne  fore-ssedan  euboluw  . 

and  hi  begen  gesmyrode  mid  gehalgudum  ele  . 

and  eac  gehuslode  .  mid  j^ses  hselendes  gerynum  .  80 

Hi  wunodon  \>k  begen  mid  jjsem  biscope  ofer  gear  . 

and  sitSan  gewendon  to  anre  wid-gyllan  byrig  . 

antiochia  geciged''  .  seo  soSlice  wses  mid  cristendome  . 

afylled  .  gefyrn  on  eald-dagum  .  84 

pa  gehadode  seo  biscop  .  basilium  to  diacone  . 

*  Srowode  V.  ^  gesohton  V.  ^  Nearly  erased ;  flowendan  V ; 

flowwendanO.  *  ae  OY  {correctly).  ^  Leaf  15.  "  sceat  V. 

^  gehatenV. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  55 

being  delivered  from  the  bonds  of  this  lying  world.' 

Then  the  wise  men  did  even  as  they  both  had  agreed, 

distributed  all  their  property  to  the  poor, 

and  journeyed  to  Jerusalem,  seeking  baptism ; 

and  many  heathen  men,  through  their  means, 

inclined  to  the  Lord,  inspired  with  faith. 

They  then  came  afterward  to  the  aforesaid  city, 

Jerusalem,  where  the  Saviour  had  suffered, 

and  sought  the  bishop  who  presided  over  the  city, 

and  besought  baptism,  lying  at  his  feet. 

The  Bishop  was  a  holy  man,  called  Maximinus, 

and  benignantly  granted  them  that  which  they  desired, 

and  immediately  went  with  them  to  the  flowing  river, 

called  Jordan,  wherein  the  Saviour  was  baptized. 

Lo  then  !    Basil  prostrated  himself  to  the  earth, 

and  with  weeping  desired  some  certain  sign  from  God 

to  confirm  his  faith,  and  laid  aside  his  garments 

on  the  river-bank,  and  went  in  naked. 

Then  the  Bishop  approached,  and  with  blessing  baptized  him. 

Behold  !   then  suddenly  fire  came  from  heaven, 

and  a  shining  dove  darted  out  of  the  fire 

into  the  river,  and  stirred  the  water, 

and  afterward  flew  up  straightway  to  Heaven, 

and  Basil  went  immediately  out  of  the  font-bath, 

and  the  bishop  clothed  him,  wondering  at  the  sign. 

He  baptized  also  afterward  the  aforesaid  Eubolus, 

and  anointed  them  both  with  hallowed  oil, 

and  also  houseled  them  with  the  Saviour's  mysteries. 

Then  they  both  dwelt  with  the  bishop  over  a  year, 

and  afterward  went  to  a  large  city 

called  Antioch,  which  truly  was  filled 

with  Christianity  long  ago,  in  olden  days. 

Then  the  bishop  ordained  Basil  as  a  deacon, 


56  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

and  h6  sefter  fyrste  .  ferde  mid  eubole  . 

to  his  agenum  8e]?ele  ^  .  ]7e  he  on  ge-boren  wses  . 

Da  mid  pam  pe  hi  cdman^  to  caj)padoniscre  scyre  88 

and  eodou  into  jjsere  byrig  pk  wear's  pam  biscope   geswutelod^  . 

on  gastlicre  gesihtSe  .  be  (Sam  godes  mannum  . 

and  pcet  basilius  sceolde  beon  biscop  a?fter  him  . 

pk  awoc  eusebius  .  Jjsere  ceastra  bisceop  .  92 

and  asende  his  preostas  .  sona  him  to-geanes  . 

h^t  him  gelangian  .  Jja  gelyfeden  men  to  . 

and  ssede  his  ceaster-ge-warum  .  hwset  h6  geseah  be  him  . 

Hi  wurdon  Sa  under-fangene  mid  fuh'e  estfuhiesse  .  96 

and  sec  halga  bisceop  .  hi  heold  arwurSlice  . 

I^earle  wundriende  heora  .  wysdomes  deopnysse  . 

pd  sefter  lytlum  fyrste  .  forS-ferde  seo  bisceop  *  . 

and  basilius  s6  bylewitta  ®  wearS  to  bisceope  gehalgod  .  100 

and  on  his  setle  ahafen  .  swa  swd  he  geseah  on  a'r  . 

jjurh  godes  awrygennysse  J7a  J^a  hi  \vit5  his  werd "  wseron  . 

Hwset  tSd  basilius  his  bisceop-dom  ge -heold  . 

mid  myceire  arwurS-nysse  .  Jjurh  J^ges  aelmihtigau  wissungc  .   104 

and  godes  gela]?unge  .  ''mid  lare  ge-trymde  . 

H6  bsed  Jjonne  selmihtigan  god  .  pcet  he  him  ge-wissode  , 

pcet  h6  mid  agenre  spraece  .  him  offrian  mihte  . 

■Sd  lyflican  on-ssegednisse  .  mid  soS-fsestre  fjenunge  .  ic8 

^fter  pam  gebede  .  he  wear?5  swiSe  on-bryrd  . 

)7urh  |3one  halgan  gast  .  &  se  hselend  him  com  to 

on  sumere  nihte  .   mid  his  apostolum  . 

and  awrehte  basilium  .  cwse'S  pcet  he  his  bena  ge-hyrde  .         112 

Jja  stod  se  hselend  sylf  .  set  ]?am  halgan  weofode  . 

and  mid  his  halgum  handum  .  husel  senode  . 

and  }7am  bisceope  tsehte  .  pses  pe  he  biddende  wae's  . 

He  cwsetS  to  basilic  .  beo  pin  muS  afylled**  116 

mid  haligre  herunga  ,  sefter  ]?inre  bena®  . 

pest  tSu  mid  agenre  spruce  geoffrian  msege  . 

pi  liflican  onssegednysse  .  mid  soSre  Jjenunge  . 

^  e))ele  V.  ^  comon  V.  ^  geswutoled  V.  *  se  biscop  V. 

^  bylewyU  O.         «  weard  V.         ''  Leaf  15,  back.         «  afilled  0.         »  bene  0  V. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,   BISHOP.  57 

and  he  after  a  space  went  with  Eubolus 

to  his  own  country,  wherein  he  was  born. 

Then  when  they  had  come  into  the  Cappadocian  province, 

and  gone  into  the  city,  then  it  was  revealed  to  the  bishop 

in  a  ghostly  vision  concerning  those  servants  of  God, 

and  that  Basil  should  be  bishop  after  him. 

Then  Eusebius  the  bishop  of  the  city  awoke, 

and  immediately  sent  his  priests  to  meet  them, 

bade  summon  to  him  those  Christian  men, 

and  told  his  citizens  what  he  had  seen  concerning  them. 

Then  were  they  received  with  great  kindness, 

and  the  holy  bishop  entertained  them  honourably, 

exceedingly  wondering  at  the  deepness  of  their  wisdom. 

Then  after  a  little  space  the  bishop  died, 

and  the  virtuous  Basil  was  consecrated  as  bishop, 

and  raised  to  his  see,  even  as  he  had  seen  formerly 

through  God's  revelation,  when  they  were  coming  towards  him. 

Lo  then  !    Basil  governed  his  bishopric 

with  great  honour,  by  the  Almighty's  guidance, 

and  confirmed  God's  church  with  his  doctrine. 

Then  he  prayed  Almighty  God  to  show  him 

how  he  might  offer  to  Him,  with  His  own  form  of  words, 

the  living  sacrifice  with  true  service. 

After  the  prayer  he  became  greatly  inspired 

through  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the  Saviour  came  to  him 

one  night,  together  with  His  apostles, 

and  aroused  Basil,  saying  that  He  had  heard  his  prayer. 

Then  the  Saviour  Himself  stood  at  the  holy  altar, 

and  with  His  sacred  hands  consecrated  the  housel, 

and  instructed  the  bishop  in  that  for  which  he  had  prayed. 

He  said  to  Basil,  'Be  thy  mouth  filled 

with  holy  praise,  according  to  thy  prayer, 

that  thou,  with  My  own  form  of  words,  mayest  offer 

the  living  sacrifice  with  true  service.' 


58  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPl. 

I^a  wearS  se  bisceop  mycclum  ablicged  .  120 

and  genam  pcet  husel  pe  se  hselend  ge-bletsode  . 

to-brsec  on  Jjreo  .  and  dn-byrgede^  anes  dseles  , 

pone  oSerne  deel  he  dyde  gehealden 

mid  him  t6  be-byrgenne  .  sefter  his  for(5-si(5e  .  124 

J^one  Sryddan  dsel  he  dyde  on-sundor  ^  . 

and  het  him  smiSian  on'  smsetum  golde  . 

anre  culfran  anlicnysse  .  and  pk  up-ah6ng  . 

bufan  p&m  altare  .  and  jjser  on  ge-dyde  .  128 

Jjone  tSryddan  dsel  .  ]?ses  deorwur'San  busies  , 

and  seo  culfra*  si]3j?an  .  simle  hi  astyrede  . 

set  basilies  messan  )5riwa  mid  pam  husle  . 

Eubolus  se  utSwyta  .  and  p^  yldostan^  preostas  .  132 

stoden  set  )?8era  dura  .  stariende  on  pcet  leoht. 

and  be-heolden  Jja  apostolas  .  pe  mid  |?am  hselende  coman  . 

mid  wuldre  ge-frsetewode  .  and  hi  wurdon  dfyrhte  . 

Hi  ge-hyrdon  )3a  stemne  pdss  halgan  sanges  .  136 

and  basilium  gesawon  .  binnan  set  j^sem  weofode  . 

and  feollan  to  his  fotum  mid  fyrhte  fornumene  . 

|?a  Sa  he  ut-eode  .  and  him  eall  ssedon  .  hwset  *  hi  J)8f^r  gesawon. 

Se  bisceop  pxs  'Sancode  .  mid  blytSum  mode  .  140 

and  })am  folce  ssede  si'StSan  Idr-spell  . 

Witodlice  basilius  .  ge-byW  J?urh  his  drihten 

be  ende-byrdnyss    awrdt  .  ealle  tSa  ]?enunga 

Jjsera  halgan  msessan  .  sw4  swd  hit  healdaS  grecas  .  144 

He  awrdt  eac  raunuc-regol  .  mid  mycelre  gehealdsuranysse  . 

Jjone  pe  ISA  easternan  .  and  eac  swylce  grecas 

dnmodlice  healdaS  .  ]?eah  pe  he  hefegra*  sy  . 

}7onne  se  Se  benedictus  sij^j^an  us  gebysnode  .  148 

swylce  to  anginne  .  agenre  ge-cyrrednysse  . 

dc  he  tihte  us  .  on  sefteweardan  Jjses  ylcan  regoles  . 

to  ge?5ungenra  lareowa  .  lifes  drohtnungum®  . 

and  tymde  to  paxa.  regole  .  pe  basilius  gesette  .  152 

Sum  ludeisc  man  wolde  .  ge-wytan  to  soJ?an 

'  onbyrigde  V.  *  onsundron  OV.  ^  ofV.  *  culfre  OV. 

SyldestanV.        «  Leaf  16.        '' gebild  0.        »  hefigraV.         »  drohtnungnaV. 


Ill,    SAINT   BA.SILIUS,    BISHOP.  59 

Then  the  bishop  was  greatly  astonished, 

and  took  the  housel  which  the  Saviour  had  blessed, 

brake   [it]  in  three,  and  consumed  one  portion; 

the  second  portion  he  caused  to  be  kept 

to  be  buried  with  him  after  his  departure ; 

the  third  portion  he  caused  to  be  set  apart, 

and  bade  to  be  wrought  for  him  in  beaten  gold 

the  likeness  of  a  dove,  and  then  hung  it  up 

above  the  altar,  and  put  therein 

the  third  portion  of  the  precious  housel ; 

and  the  dove  ever  after  stirred  herself 

at  Basil's  mass,  thrice,  at  the  time  of  houselling, 

Eubolus  the  philosopher,  and  the  principal  priests, 

stood  at  the  door,  staring  at  the  light, 

and  beheld  the  apostles  who  came  with  the  Saviour 

adorned  with  glory,  and  they  were  affrighted. 

They  heard  the  voice  of  the  holy  song, 

and  saw  Basil  within  at  the  altar, 

and  fell  at  his  feet,  seized  with  fear, 

as  he  came  out,  and  they  related  to  him  all  that  they  had  seen 

there. 
The  bishop  gave  thanks  for  this  with  blithe  mind, 
and  afterward  preached  a  sermon  to  the  people. 
Verily  Basil,  bold  through  his  Lord's  aid, 
wrote  in  due  order  all  the  service 
of  the  Holy  Mass,  even  as  the  Greeks  keep  it. 
He  wrote  also  a  monastic  rule  with  great  purity, 
which  the  Easterns,  and  moreover  the  Greeks, 
observe  unanimously,  although  it  is  severer 
than  that  which  Benedict  afterward  gave  us  example  of, 
as  it  were  at  the  beginning  of  his  own  conversion  ; 
but  he  exhorted  us,  in  the  after  part  of  the  same  rule, 
to  the  habits  of  life  of  illustrious  teachers, 
and  recommended  the  rule  which  Basil  had  established. 
A  certain  Jewish  man  desired  to  know  for  a  truth 


60  III.     DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

be  tSsere  halgan  msessau  .  hwylce  mihte  heo  hsefde  . 

and  be  t5am  halgan  husle  .  J^eah  pe  he  hae'Sen  waere  . 

Eode  pA  to  msessan  mid  otSrum  mannum  ,  156 

and  hlosnode  georne  be  (Ssere  lifiican  onssegednysse  . 

pd  mid  Sam  pe  basilius  .  to-brsec  pcet  husel  . 

p-d  }3uhte  Jjam  ludeiscan  .  swylce  he  to-dselde  kn  cyld  , 

eode  swd  jjeah  mid  o'Srum  mannum  earhlice  to  husle  .  160 

and  him  wearS  ge-seald  an  snsed  flaesces  . 

and  he  saep  ^  of  Ssem  calice  eac  swylce  blod  . 

Heold  swa  |?eah  sumne  dael  hdm  to  berenne  mid  him  . 

and  set-sewode^  his  wife  .  and  ge-wis-lice  ssede  .  164 

hwset  h6  sylf  ge-seah  .  and  si'S'San  j?8es^  on  mergen  . 

com  to  basilie  *  biddende  fulluhtes  *  . 

Hwset  |7a  se  biscop  hine  blijjelice  gefuUode  . 

and  ealle  his  hiwan  on  |?3es  hselendes  naman  .  168 

He  eode  sefter  moessan  ut  .  of  Jsam  temple  . 

and  efne  ]?a  sona  hine  ge-sohte  an  wif 

biddende  his  |?ingunge  to  anum  ge-)?ungenum  ealdor-men  . 

Basilius  pk  awrdt  pa  earman  wife  4n  ge-wryt  172 

to  )?sem  ealdormenn  on  |5isum  andgite  ®  . 

pis  earme  wif  me  ge-sohte  .  ^  ssede  poet  ic  mihte  hyre 

to  Se  ge-J?ingian  .  jjonne  cyS  f)u  nu  ic  bidde 

gif  ic  swA  w6l  ^  wis  pe  mseg ''  .  swd  pcet  wif  truwaS  .  1 76 

pa  raedde  se  aldorman  poet  serend-gewrit  . 

and  sende  him  ongean  sona  on  gewryte  . 

cwseS  pa&i  h6  wolde  pam  wife  gemyltsian  . 

for  his  Jjingunge  .  ac  h6  swd  J?eah  ne  mihte  180 

pcet  gafol  alecgan  .  pe  heo  ge-lsestan  sceolde  . 

pa  asende  se  bisceop  to  ]5am  foressedon  ealdormenn  . 

eft  oSer  gewryt  .  mid  J^ysum  andgyte  . 

Gif  Jju  woldest  myltsian  .  and  sw4  Jjcah  ne  mihtest  .  184 

|58er  is  sum  beladung  on  jjsere  ssegne  * . 

Gif  J3U  ]?onne  mihtest  myltsian  .  and  noldest  . 

ge-bringe  j^e  se  haelend  to  hyre  hafen-leaste  . 

*  seap  OV.       *  jEt-eowde  OV.       »  y  om.  J)£es.       *-*  fulluhtes  biddende  0. 
*  andgituraV.  «  L-af  16,  back.  ''-''  mag  wiS  Se  V.  *  segene  O. 


III.    SAINT    BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  61 

concerning  the  holy  mass,  what  power  it  had, 

and  concerning  the  holy  housel,  although  he  was  a  heathen. 

Then  went  he  to  mass  with  other  men, 

and  waited  eagerly  for  the  living  sacrifice. 

Then,  while  Basil  divided  the  housel, 

it  seemed  to  the  Jew  as  if  he  were  severing  a  child ; 

nevertheless  he  went  with  other  men  fearfully  to  the  housel, 

and  a  piece  of  flesh  was  given  to  him, 

and  he  sipped  moreover  as  it  were  blood  from  the  chalice. 

Nevertheless  he  kept  a  portion  to  bear  home  with  him, 

and  showed  it  to  his  wife,  and  related  truly 

what  he  himself  had  seen,  and  after  this  in  the  morning 

came  to  Basil,  requesting  baptism. 

So  then  the  Bishop  blithely  baptized  him, 

and  all  his  household,  in  the  Saviour's  name. 
He  went  after  mass  out  of  the  temple, 

and  behold  !   there  immediately  a  woman  sought  him, 

beseeching  his  intercession  with  a  distinguished  alderman. 

Basil  then  wrote  for  the  poor  woman  a  writing 

[addressed]  to  the  alderman,  with  this  purport : 

'  This  poor  woman  sought  me,  saying  that  I  could 

intercede  for  her  to  thee,  therefore  shew  now,  I  pray, 

if  I  may  [prevail]  as  well  with  thee  as  the  woman  trusteth.' 

Then  the  alderman  read  the  letter, 

and  sent  to  him  in  return  immediately  in  writing, 

saying,  that  he  would  pardon  the  woman 

for  his  intercession,  but  nevertheless  he  could  not 

remit  the  tax  which  she  had  to  render. 

Then  the  bishop  sent  to  the  aforesaid  alderman 

again  another  writing,  with  this  purport : 

'  If  thou  wouldst  pity  and  nevertheless  couldst  not, 

there  is  some  excuse  in  thy  assertion ; 

but  if  thou  couldst  pity,  and  wouldest  not, 

may  the  Saviour  bring  thee  to  poverty  like  hers, 


63  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI   BASTLII    EPISCOPI. 

])(et  Ipn  ne  msege  myltsian  peah  ]?u  wylle  .  i88 

pa  sefter  sumum  fyrste  hira  wearS  swit5e  gram 

se  healica  casera  .  and  hdt  hine  ge-bindan  . 

and  ^him  to  ge-bringan^  bysmorlice  on  hsefte  . 

Da  asende  se  ealdorman  sona  to  basilie  .  192 

biddende  earmlice  .  ])oet  he  ]?one  geyrsodon  casere 

Jjurh  his  ge-bedu^  ge-litSgode  .  and  hit  gelanip  swa  . 

pa  ymbe'  syx  dagas  .  se  casere  het  sendan 

ongean  Jjone  ge-swaencten  ealdormdn  .  196 

of  J)8em  nearwum  bendum  .  and  him  Ipi  bliSe  wses  , 

Da  com  se  ealdorman  to  })am  arwurcSan  biscope  . 

*]3ancode  his  j^ingunge  .  and  J^am  earmum  wife 

be  twifealdum  forgeald  .  pees  pe  he  hyre  benam  .  200 

pes  ylca  bisceop  .  pQ  we  ymbe^  sprecatS 

ssede  be  him  sylfum  on  sumne  timan  . 

pcet  h6  nsefre  on  his  life  ne  come  neah  wife  . 

]?urh  hsemed-jping  .  dc  heold  his  clsennysse  .  204 

On  sumum  dege^  ferde  .  seo''  fore-sseda  bisceop  . 

pa  rdd  lulianus  se  arlease  casere  , 

mid  mycelra  fyrdinge  .  switJe  fus  to  wige  . 

and  ge-cneow  basilium  .  and  cwset?  him  sona  to  .  208 

Ic  hsebbe  pe  ofer-]50gen  .  on  ge-]?un^genre  lare  . 

and  on  utSwytegunge  .  Him  and-wyrde  se  bisceop  . 

Forgeafe  god  selmihtig  .  pcet  tSu  fyligdest  wysdome  . 

and  bead  him  mid  j^am  worde  J?ry  berene  hlafes'.  212 

swylce  for  bletsunge  .  pses  pe  he  sylf  bras'c  ^" . 

Da  h6t  se  arleasa  onfon  J)8era  hlafa  . 

and  syllan  Jjam  godes  menn  .  gairs  to-geanes  . 

and  cwsetS  mid  hospe  .  horse  mete  is  here  .  216 

pcet  h6  us  forgeaf  .  underfo  h6  gsers  . 

pa  underfaeng"  se  halga  .  pa,  handfulle  and  cwsetS  . 

We  budon  pe  casere  .  J^es  pe  w6  sylfa  brucacS  . 

and  pu  sealdest  us  to-geanes  .  pcet  pcet  tSe  unge-sceadwyse  nytena    220 


*-'  hine  tobringan  V.           ^  gebedeV. 

^  embeV. 

*  0  inserts  and. 

*  embe  0.              "  dsege  V.              ''  se  V. 

«  Leaf  17. 

9  hlafasV. 

"  breac  V.             "  uncler-feng  V. 

III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  63 

that  thou  mayest  not  be  able  to  pity  though  thou  will.' 

Then  after  some  interval  the  august  emperor 

became  very  angry  with  him  [the  alderman]  and  commanded  to 

bind  him, 
and  to  bring  him  ignominiously  into  captivity. 
Then  the  alderman  sent  immediately  to  Basil, 
praying  lamentably  that  he  would  appease  the  incensed  emperor 
by  his  supplications ;  and  so  it  befell. 
Then  in  about  six  days  the  emperor  bade  send  away 
home  again  the  afflicted  alderman 
out  of  the  strait  bonds,  and  he  was  blithe  thereat. 
Then  the  alderman  came  to  the  venerable  bishop, 
thanked  [him]  for  his  intercession,  and  to  the  poor  woman 
repaid  by  twofold  that  which  he  had  taken  from  her. 

This  same  bishop,  of  whom  we  are  speaking, 
said  concerning  himself  on  a  certain  occasion, 
that  he  never  in  his  life  came  near  a  woman 
by  cohabitation,  but  kept  his  virginity. 

On  a  certain  day  the  aforesaid  bishop  was  journeying, 
where  rode  Julian  the  wicked  emperor, 
with  a  great  army,  very  eager  for  battle, 
and  he  knew  Basil,  and  instantly  said  to  him, 
'  I  have  surpassed  thee  in  excellent  learning, 
and  in  philosophy.'     The  bishop  answered  him, 
'Would    that    God    Almighty    might     grant     thee     to     follow 

wisdom  !' 
and  offered  him,  with  these  words,  three  barley  loaves, 
as  if  for  a  blessing,  such  as  he  himself  pai'took  of. 
Then  the  wicked  man  bade  [his  men]  receive  the  loaves, 
and  give  to  the  man  of  God  grass  in  return, 
and  said  contemptously ;   'Barley  is  hcrsemeat, 
which  he  hath  given  us;    let  him  receive  grass' 
Then  the  saint  received  the  handful,  and  said, 
'We  offered  thee.  Emperor,  of  that  which  we  ourselves  eat, 
and  thou  hast  given  us  in  return  that  which  irrational  beasts 


64  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

habbaS  him  to  big-leofan  .  gebysmriende  us  . 

pa  ge-bealh  hine  se  casere  .  and  cwseS  .  mid  ge-beote  . 

]5onne  ic  eft  ge-cyrre  .  sigefseste  fram  fyrde  . 

Ic  aweste  J)inne  buruh  .  and  gewyrce  to  yr'5-lande  .  224 

Ic  wdt  J?ine  dyrstignysse  .  and  J?ine  burh-wara  , 

J)e  to-brsecon  pa,  anlicnysse  .  pi  ic  sylf  areerde  . 

and  m6  to  jjaere  gebse'd  ge-bygdum  cneowum  . 

iEfter  pysum  worde  h6  gewende  to  persum  .  228 

and  basilius  cydde  .  his  burh-warum  )?is  . 

and  nam  him  to  rsede  pcet  hi  ]3one  re'San  casere 

mid  sceattum  gegladodon  .  Jjonne  he  of  J^am  siSe  come  . 

Hwset  ]?a  seo  burh-ware  bli'Selice  ge-gaderode  232 

un-gerim  feos  .  set-foran  ]5am  bisceope  . 

pa  bead  he  Jjam  folce  J^reoi-a  daga  fsesten  . 

and  het  hi  astigan  up  to  anre  sticolre  dune  . 

on  ]?8ere  wees  gefyrn  .  fore-maere  taempl  .  236 

sancte  marian  ge-halgod  .  mid  healicum  wurtJ-mynte  . 

and  hi  set  paere  halgan  stowe  Jjone  hselend  baedon  . 

pcet  he  hratSe  to-wurpe  ]30es  wsel-reowan  andgyt  . 

and  hi  ahrsedde  wijj  Sone  ret5an  casere  .  240 

pa  ge-seah  se  biscop  ,  pi  pA  hi  swiSost  baedon  . 

on  sumere  nihte  .  sancta,  marian  cuman  . 

mid  heofonlicum  werode  ^  to  J)sere  halgan  ^  stowe  . 

and  cwceS  .  to  (5am  halgum  .  pe  hyre  gehendost  stodan  ^  .      244 

ClypiacS  Jjone  martyr  mercurium  to  m6  . 

pcet  h6  ardlice  fare  .  to  J)am  arleasan  luliane  . 

and  hine  acwelle  .  for  ]?an  pe  he  criste  wiS-sdc  . 

and  be  minum  sunu  .  p&m  socSan  gode  .  248 

teel-lice  sprecjj  .  mid  to-]3undenum  mode  . 

pa  com  mercurius  .  to  Ssere  mseran  cwene  . 

mid  his  ge-waepnunge  .  and  wearcS  sona  asend  . 

fram  cristes  meder  .  to  Jjaes  caseres  slsege  .  252 

Da  wearcS  basilius  .  j^earle  *  afyrht  . 

and  eode  mid  eubole  eft  to  Ssere  byrig  . 

and  si]7]3an  to  t5an  sancte  .  pe  on  ^Saera  cyrcean^  laeg  . 

'  weorodum  V.  =  Leaf  1 7,  back.  '  stodon  V.  *  swySe  V. 

'~'  'Sfere  cyrcan  V. 


III.    SAINT    BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  65 

have  for  their  sustenance,  thus  mocking  us.' 

Then  the  emperor  was  angry,  and  said  threateningly, 

*  When  I  return  again  victorious  from  the  expedition, 

I  will  lay  waste  thy  town,  and  make  it  into  plough-land; 

I  know  thy  presumption,  and  that  of  thy  citizens, 

who  destroyed  the  image  which  I  myself  set  up, 

and  whereto  I  prayed  on  bended  knees.' 

After  this  saying  he  departed  to  the  Persians, 

and  Basil  showed  this  thing  to  his  citizens, 

and  took  counsel  with  them  that  they  should  gladden 

the    cruel    emperor    with    treasures    when    he    came    from    the 

journey. 
Lo  !    then  the  citizens  blithely  gathered 
countless  treasures  before  the  bishop. 
Then  he  enjoined  for  the  people  a  three-days'  fast, 
and  bade  them  mount  up  to  a  steep  hill, 
on  which  aforetime  a  famous  temple 
had  been  dedicated  to  saint  Mary  with  high  honour  ; 
and  they  entreated  the  Saviour  at  the  holy  place, 
that  He  would  soon  defeat  the  bloodthirsty  man's  purpose, 
and  deliver  them  from  the  cruel  emperor. 
Then  the  bishop  saw,  when  they  were  praying  most  earnestly 
one  night  Saint  Mary  come 
with  a  heavenly  company  to  the  holy  place, 
and  [she]  said  to  the  saints  that  stood  closett  to  her, 
'  Call  the  martyr  Mercurius  to  me, 
that  he  may  go  quickly  to  the  wicked  Julian, 
and  kill  him,  because  he  hath  denied  Christ, 
and  concerning  my  Son,  the  true  God, 
he  speaketh  blasphemously  with  inflated  mind.' 
Then  came  Mercurius  to  the  illustrious  queen 
with  his  armour,  and  was  sent  immediately 
by  Christ's  Mother  to  kill  the  emperor. 
Then  became  Basil  exceedingly  afraid, 
and  went  with  Eubolus  again  to  the  city, 
and  afterward  to  the  saint  who  lay  in  the  church, 

5 


66  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI   BASILIl    EPISCOPI. 

raercurius  .  se  martyr  mid  mycclum  wurtS-mynte  .  256 

and  sohte  his  wsepnu  .  dc  h6  ne  ge-seah  hi  na  hwaer  . 

pd  axode  he  Jjone  cyrcweard  .  be  J^aes  sanctes  wsepnum  . 

and  h6  swor  pcet  hf  wseron  ge-wyslice  .  ]?8er  on  sefen  . 

pi  on-cneow  se  bisceop  .  cutSlice  his  ge-sihtSe  .  260 

and  eode  eft  to  Sam  munte  .  mid  mycelre  blysse  . 

Kydde  J^am  folce  Ipcet  se  casere  wses  of-slegen  . 

on  jjsere  ilcan  nihte  .  sw4  swd  him  set-ewod  waes. 

He  eode  eft  ongean  to  jsam  arwurtSan  sancte  .  264 

wolde  ge-wytan  .  gif  his  wsepnu  coman  . 

D4  stod  his  franca  })ser  ,  fula  be-gleddod  . 

mid  lulianes  blode  .  binnan  J)am  gesceote  . 

Efne  Jjaes  ymbe  seofan  niht  .  com  to  Jjsere  ylcan  ceastre  .       268 

dn  J>8es  caseres  ]?egna  .  and  cydde  ]5aere  burh-ware  ]?is  . 

lulianws  wycode  wi(5  \>k  64  eufraten  . 

and  him  ofer-wacedon  syfan-fealde  weardes  . 

}3a  com  sum  cempa  .  uncutS  us  eallum  .  272 

Bwi]5e  ge-wsepnod  .  and  hyne  sona  ]7urh-J)ydde  . 

mid  egeslicum  onhrsese  .  and  ne  seteowde  si(5San  . 

J)a  hrymde  lulianws  mid  hospe  . 

and  earmlice  ge-wdt  .  on  ure  ge-wyt-nysse  .  276 

Dus  cydde  se  cempa  .  and  ge-cneowode  to  Jsam  bisceope 

fuPluhtes  biddende  .  and  se  bisceop  him  ]?aes  ge-tySode 

])a  bead  basilius  ^  ]?8ere  burh-wara  "^  heora  feoh  . 

ac  hi  ealle  cwsedon  mid  anre  stemne  .  280 

gif  we  ]?am  dsedlicam  ^  Jjas  cyste  ge-utSan  . 

]?0E<  h6  ne  to-wurpe  ure  wynsuman  burh  . 

myccle  switSor  we  sceolan  ]?am  sotSfsestan  gode  .     ~ 

]3as  lac  ge-offrian  .  }?e  us  alysde  fram  deatSe  .  284 

pu  hsefst  \)CBt  feoh  mid  ]36  .  ge-fada  embe  loca  hu  J5U  wylle 

D4  nydde  *  se  bisceop  '^oet  hi  namon  J^sene  |?ryddan  dsel  . 

and  ]3a  twegen  dselas  .  he  dyde  to  J?8ere  cyrcean  . 

and  to  ]?8es  mynstrses  neode  .  mid  msenig-fealdum  crseftum  .  288 

Twa  gear  rixode  ]78es  retSa  lulianus  . 

and  nolde  ge-healdan  his  preost-had  on  riht  . 

'Leaf  1 8,         *'^  '5am  burli-ware  V.         ^  jRaei  dsedlicum.         *neddeV. 


III.    SAINT    BASILITJS,    BISHOP.  67 

Mercurius  the  martyr,  with  great  veneration, 

and  sought  his  weapons,  but  he  saw  theip  nowhere. 

Then  he  asked  the  chui'ch-keeper  about  the  saint's  weapons, 

and  he  swore  that  they  were  certainly  there  in  the  evening. 

Then  the  bishop  truly  understood  his  vision, 

and  went  again  to  the  mountain  with  great  joy, 

and  made  known  to  the  people  that  the  em})eror  was  slain 

on  that  same  night,  as  had  been  shown  to  him. 

He  went  again  to  the  venerable  saint, 

desiring  to  know  if  his  weapons  had  come  back. 

Then  stood  his  javelin  there,  foully  stained 

with  Julian's  blood,  within  the  chancel. 

Behold,  about  seven  days  afterwards  came  to  the  same  city 

one   of  the    emperor's    knights,    and   made    this    known    to    the 

citizens : 
'Julian  was  encamped  by  the  river  Euphrates, 
and  a  sevenfold  guard  watched  over  him  ; 
then  came  a  warrior  unknown  to  us  all, 
strongly  armed,  and  immediately  pierced  him  through 
with  awful  assault,  and  was  not  seen  afterward; 
then  Julian  cried  out  with  blasphemy, 
and  miserably  died,  as  we  can  testify.' 
Thus  the  soldier  related,  and  kneeled  to  the  bishop, 
praying  baptism,  and  the  bishop  granted  him  tliis. 
Then  Basil  offered  the  citizens  their  property, 
but  they  all  said  with  one  voice, 

'If  we  granted  these  costly  things  to  the  mortal  [man], 
that  he  might  not  destroy  our  winsome  city, 
much  rather  ought  we  to  offer  the  treasure 
to  the  true  God  who  has  delivered  us  from  death  ; 
thou  hast  the  property  with  thee,  dispose  of  it,  lo  !  how  thou  wilt.' 
Then  the  bishop  compelled  them  to  take  the  third  part, 
and  the  other  two  parts  he  gave  to  the  needs  of  the  church, 
and  of  the  minster,  for  manifold  uses. 
Two  years  the  cruel  Julian  reigned, 
and  would  not  keep  his  priesthood  in  righteousness, 

5—2 


68  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

^c  truwode  on  Ipone  hsetSen-scype  .  ]?e  hine  to  helle  ge-brohte  . 

Eft  on  sumne  timan  .  wear's  se  arfsesta  w6r  292 

for  t5an  so'San  ge-leafan  .  leaslice  ge-wreged  . 

to  ualens  j^am  casere  .  pe  Sa  cyne-domes  geweold  . 

Se  wses  on  criste  gefullod  .  Ac  he  ne  cnlpe  his  geleafan  . 

ac  folgode  gedwylde  .  ]?urh  gedwolmanna  tih tinge  .  296 

pa  h6t  se  casere  Jjone  halgan  ge-feccan  . 

to  antiochia  jjaere  senlican  byrig  . 

pa  mid  Jsam  pe  se  gedwola  .  embe  his  deatS  smseda  {sic)  . 

Tpa,  wearcS  his  agen  sunu  yfele^  geuntrumed  .  300 

and  orwena  lifes  .  Iseg  set  for'S-si'Se  ^  . 

pd  eode  seo  cw6n  to  'Sam  casere  and  cwgetS  . 

yfela  Jju  gefadast  for  gode  J?inne  rsed 

nu  swelt  uncer  sunu  for  San  soS-fsestan  men  .  304 

pd  clypode  se  casere  .  and  cwse'S  to  basilic  . 

gif  ]jin  lar  is  BO'S  .  and  heo  gode  gelica'S  . 

gebide  for  mine  sunu  .  Ipcet  his  yfel  beo  afliged  . 

Da  cwse'S  basilius  .  beald-lice  to  Ipam.  casere  .  308 

gif  Ipu  wylt  onriht  gelyfan  .  ^  )?onne  lifaS  J^in  sunu  . 

He  be-het  pcet  h6  wolde  .  and  se  halga  ge-bsed  . 

for  ]?set  seoce  cyld  .  and  him  wses  sona  bet  . 

pa.  cwsedon  J?a  ge-dw61-men  .  pe  dwelodon  ]7one  casere  .  312 

pcet  h6  ne  sceolde  bugan  .  for  basilies  lare  . 

of  his  agenum  andgyte  fram  heora  sewfsest-nysse  . 

and  ssedon  pcet  his  sunu  wsere  gesundful  jjurh  hi  . 

Mid  J^am  pe  ]pa  dw61-men  .  hine  bedydrodon  ]?us  .  316 

pa.  fortS-ferde  pcet  cyld  .  fserlice  on  heora  handum  . 

Eft  on  oSrum  timan  .  se  unge-lyfeda  ualens  . 

genara  godes  circean  .  of  pam  godes  j^eowum  , 

and  for-geaf  pam  gedwol-mannum  .  pe  hine  bedydrodon  .        330 

Da  ferde  basilius  .  to  'Sam  fore-ssedan  casere  . 

and  mende  pcet  unriht  .  pe  'Sa  yfelan  hine  ongebrohton  . 

sw^  poet  se  casere  set  nextan  .  betsehte  to  his  dome  . 

Hwset  ]?a  basilius  ,  to  J?sere  byrig  ferde  .  324 

nicea  ge-haten  .  on  j^sera  wses  gehsefd 

'  Yom.  yfele.  *  End  of  fragment  in  V.  '  Leaf  18,  back. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  69 

but  trusted  in  the  heathenism  which  brought  him  to  hell. 

Again  on  a  certain  occasion  the  pious  man 
was  falsely  accused,  for  the  cause  of  the  true  faith, 
to  Valens  the  Emperor,  who  then  ruled  the  kingdom. 
He  was  baptized  into  Christ,  but  he  knew  not  His  faith, 
but  followed  heresy  through  the  persuasion  of  heretics. 
Then  the  Emperor  commanded  to  fetch  the  saint 
to  Antioch,  the  beautiful  city. 

Then  while  the  heretic  was  considering  about  his  death, 
his  own  son  became  grievously  sick, 
and  hopeless  of  life,  lay  at  [the  point  of]  death. 
Then  the  queen  went  to  the  emperor,  and  said, 
'  Evilly  thou  disposest  thy  purpose  in  God's  sight ; 
now  our  son  is  dying  on  account  of  the  just  man.' 
Then  the  emperor  cried  and  said  to  Basil, 
'  If  thy  doctrine  is  true,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  God, 
pray  for  my  son  that  his  malady  be  put  to  flight.' 
Then  said  Basil  boldly  to  the  emperor, 
'  If  thou  wilt  believe  aright,  then  shall  thy  son  live.' 
He  promised  that  he  would,  and  the  saint  prayed 
for  the  sick  child,  and  he  was  instantly  better. 
Then  said  the  heretics,  who  misled  the  emperor, 
that  he  ought  not  to  depart,  on  account  of  Basil's  teaching, 
from  their  religion,  of  his  own  mind, 
and  said  that  his  son  should  be  whole  by  their  means. 
"While  the  heretics  thus  deceived  him, 
the  child  died  suddenly  in  their  hands. 

Again  at  another  time  the  unbelieving  Valens 
took  God's  church  from  the  servants  of  God, 
and  gave  it  to  the  heretics  who  deceived  him. 
Then  went  Basil  to  the  aforesaid  emperor 
and  complained  of  the  wrong  which  the  evil  men  had  brought 

upon  him, 
so  that  the  emperor  at  last  gave  in  to  his  judgment. 
So  then  Basil  went  to  the  city, 
called  Nicea,  in  which  was  situated 


70  III.    DEPOSITIO    SAXCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

pcet  fore-S8ede  mynster  ,  pe  Sa  manfullan  abaedon  . 

set  ]5am  unriht-wisan  casere  .  and  pa  cristenan  to-drsefdon  . 

J?a  cwsBp  basilius  .  Uton  be-lucan  J^as  circan  .  328 

and  pcet  loc  ge-inseglian  .  and  ge  ealle  si¥]>an 

wacia'S  J^reo  niht  wunigende  on  gebedum  . 

and  gif  seo  cyrce  bicS  geopenad  .  jjurh  eowre  ge-bena  . 

habbatS  hi  eow  sefre  siSSan  .  and  ne  ssecgatS  us  nenne  Jjanc  .        332 

Gif  Jjone  se  selmihtiga  god  nelle  hi  eow  geopenian  ^ 

*  Jjonne  wacie  we  ane  niht  .  Jjone  selmihtigan  biddende  . 
"pcet  he  us  geopenige  pa,  ge-insaeglodan  cyrcan  . 

and  gif  heo  biS  swa  geopenad  ^  .  heo  bicS  si'5j?an  ure  .  336 

and  gif  heo  J)onne  ne  bij?  .  ne  bidde  we  hyre  ngefre  . 

Da  ge-licode  |7am  gedwolum  .  J^ses  bisceopes  dom  . 

and  wacodon  pa  |jreo  niht  .  and  on  |?am  ]?riddau  dege"* 

stodan  set  ]3sera  cyr^can  dura''  .  singende  ealle  340 

fram  serne  mserien  .  otS  ofer  midne  daeg  . 

Ac  hi  crist  ne  gehyrde  .  for  J?an  pe  hi  ne  cujson  bine  . 

pa  wacode  basilius  .  on  ge-bedum  ane  niht 

mid  para  geleafFullan  folce  .  and  fsengon  on  serne  msergen®     344 

ealle  to  clypienne  .  Kyrrieleyson  . 

mid  hluddre  ^  stemne  .  to  Sam  leofan  hselende  . 

pa  com  fserlice  mycel  wynd  .  and  wearp  upp  pa  duru  . 

pcet  tSa  scytelses  ^  to  burston  .  and  heo  sloh  on  ]?one  weall  .  348 

Hi  eodon  J)a  in  .  J?one  selmihtigan  herigende  . 

and  se  bisceop  messode '  .  and  bletsode  pa  ge-leaffullan  . 

and  fsela  jjge'ra  gedwol-manna  .  fengon  to  geleafan  . 

D4  ne  mihte  se  casere  .  wi?5-cwej?an  pam  dome  .  352 

do  Ut  ]3a  godas***  ]?eowas  .  pcet  godes  tempi  bugian  . 

and  jjsera  4re  brucan  j^e  him  ge-ahnod  wses  .  ^ 

Jja  fore-ssedan  gedwol-men  .  wseron  gefullode  on  gode  . 

ac  hi  ne  gelyfdan  onriht  .  on  ]3one  lifigendan  "  crist  .  356 

ac  mid  manegum  gedwyldum  dwelodan^'^  pk  cristenan  . 

•  Besides  the  copy  in  MS.  O,  fol.  6  (as  now  mimbered),  another  different  copy 
exists  in  the  same  MS.,  fol.  50.   I  give  a  few  various  readings  below,  marked  O,. 

*  geopenod  0.  '  daege  O.  *  Leaf  19.  '  duru  O. 

*  merien  0.  ''  hludere  O.  '  scittelsas  0.  *  msessode  0. 
'<>  Sic ;  read  godcs.             "  lyfiendiin  O^.             "  dweledon  Oj. 


Ill,    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  71 

the  aforesaid  minster,  which  the  wicked  men  had  begged 

of  the  unrighteous  emperor,  driving  out  the  Christians. 

Then  said  Basil,  'Let  us  lock  up  this  church, 

and  seal  the  lock,  and  do  ye  all  afterward 

watch  three  nights,  continuing  in  prayer, 

and  if  the  church  be  opened  through  your  prayers, 

ye  shall  have  it  ever  afterward,  and  give  no  thanks  to  us. 

If  the  Almighty  God  will  not  open  it  to  you, 

then  we  will  watch  one  night,  praying  to  the  Almighty, 

that  He  will  open  to  us  the  sealed  church, 

and  if  it  be  thus  opened,  it  shall  afterward  be  ours, 

and  if  it  is  not  then  [opened],  we  will  never  ask  for  it.' 

The  proposal  of  the  bishop  pleased  the  heretics, 

and  they  watched  there  three  nights,  and  on  the  third  day 

stood  at  the  church  door,  all  singing, 

from  early  morning  till  over  mid-day. 

But  Christ  heard  them  not,  because  they  knew  Him  not. 

Then  Basil  watched  in  prayers  one  night 

with  the  faithful  people,  and  in  the  early  morning, 

all  began  to  cry,  Kyrie,  eleison, 

with  loud  voice  to  the  dear  Saviour  ; 

Then  suddenly  came  a  great  wind,  and  threw  open  the  door, 

so  that  the  bolts  burst,  and  it  struck  against  the  wall. 

Then  went  they  in,  praising  the  Almighty, 

and  the  bishop  said  mass,  and  blessed  the  faithful, 

and  many  of  the  heretics  received  the  faith. 

Then  the  emperor  could  not  gainsay  the  decision, 

but  let  the  servants  of  God  inhabit  God's  temple, 

and  enjoy  the  property  which  was  made  their  own. 

The  aforesaid  heretics  were  baptized  into  God, 

but  they  did  not  believe  aright  in  the  living  Christ, 

but  with  many  heresies  deceived  the  Christians, 


72  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPl. 

Sum  arwur]?e  pegn  lieefde  ane  dohter  . 
Jjd  he  wolde  gebringau  .  bitinan  sumuw  inyiibtre  , 
and  criste  be-taecan  .  to  his  clsenan  ]?eowdome  .  360 

]?a  weartS  an  his  cnapena  .  to  cutS  ]?am  maidene  . 
and  Jjurh  deofles  tihtinge  .  hi  digollice  lufode  . 
kc  h6  ne  dorste  ameldian  his  ungemetegodan  lufe  . 
Eode  J)d.  to  anum  dryinen  ]?e  deofles  crseft  cu"Se  .  364 

and  beh^t  him  sceattes  .  gif  he  mid  his  scyn-crsefte  ^ 
him  J3set  niseden  mihte  ge-macian  to  wife  . 
pa  ge-brohte  se  dry-man  ,  ]?one  cnapan  .  to  his  deofle  . 
and  se  deofol  befran  .  J?one  dweligendan  cnapan  .  368 

gif  h6  wolde  on  ^  bine  gelyfan  .  aud  his  hselende  Avit5sacen  . 
^witS  J?am^  ]>e  he  gefremode  his  fulan  gahiysse  . 
pa  stod  se  earming  .  set-foran  J^am  arleasan  deofle  . 
jjser  h6  healice  saet  mid  his  hel-cnihtum  .  372 

"and  cwaet5  he  wolde  witS-sacan  his  criste  . 
and  gelyfan  on  bine  gif  he  his  lust  gefremode  . 
pa  cwsetJ  se  sceocca  eft  .  Gre  synd  swit5e  ungetreowa  *  . 
Jjonne  ge  min  be-hofiatS  .  J^onne  ic  helpe  eow  .  376 

and  ge  wiJjsaca'S  me  eft  .  and  cyrracS  to  eowrum  criste 
sejje  is  switSe  myld-heort  .  and  myldelice  eow  under-fehj)  , 
ac  wryt  ^  me  nu  sylf  wylles  .  pcet  J)u  wi(5-saca  ^  criste  . 
and  ]?inum  fulluhte  .  and  ic  ge-fremme  tSinne  lust  .  380 

and  ]>\i  beo  on  domes  dsege  .  fordemed  mid  me  . 
Da  awrdt  se  earming  mid  his  'agenra  hande'' 
swd  swa  se  deofol  .  him  gedihte  jpone  pistol  . 
and  se  deofol  sona  ssende  to  ?5am  msedene  .  384 

his  fulan  gastas  .  |?e  galnysse  styriatS  . 
and  ontendan®  pcet  mseden  .  to  pses  mannes  lustum  . 
Heo  weartJ  pa  geangsumod  mid  J?sera  ormtetan  ontendnysse  . 
and  feoll  adune  fserlice  hrymende  .  388 

Eala  }3U  min  feeder  .  gemyltsa  Jjinre  dehter  . 
and  for-gif  me  ]?am  men  .  pe  min  mod  me  to  spenS  . 
elles  ic  mot  sweltan  .  sarlicum  deatSe  . 

'  Bcin-crsefte  0.  ^  Leaf  19,  back.  '"'  sij)|)an  0.  *  ungetriwe  0. 

•  writ  0.  *  wi>8ace  0.  '''''  agenrae  hauda  Oj.  *  ontende  0,. 


Ill,    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  73 

An  honourable  tlmne  had  a  daughter 
Avhom  he  wished  to  bring  within  a  minster 
and  commit  to  Christ,  to  His  pure  service. 
Then  one  of  his  youths   became  known  to  the  maiden, 
and  through  the  instigation  of  the  devil  loved  her  secretly, 
but  he  durst  not  announce  his  inordinate  love. 
Then  he  went  to  a  sorcerer  who  knew  the  devil's  craft, 
and  promised  him  treasure  if  he,  by  his  magic, 
could  make  the  maiden  become  his  wife. 
Then  the  sorcerer  brought  the  youth  to  his  devil, 
and  the  devil  asked  the  erring  youth 
if  he  would  believe  on  him,  and  deny  his  Saviour, 
as  soon  as  he  had  furthered  his  foul  lust. 
Then  stood  the  miserable  one  before  the  wicked  devil, 
where  he  sat  exalted  with  his  hellish  servants, 
and  said  he  would  renounce  his  Christ, 
and  believe  on  him,  if  he  would  perform  his  desire. 
Then  said  the  fiend  again,  '  Ye  are  very  unfaithful ; 
Avhen  ye  have  need  of  me,  then  I  heli)  you, 
and  afterwards  ye  renounce  me  and  turn  to  your  Christ, 
who  is  very  merciful  and  mercifully  receiveth  you. 
But    write    me    now,    of   thy    own    will,    that    thou    renouncest 

Christ 
and  thy  baptism,  and  I  will  perform  thy  desii-e, 
and  thou  shalt  be  condemned  with  me  at  Doomsday.' 
Then  the  wretch  wrote  the  document  with  his  own  hands 
even  as  the  devil  dictated  it  to  liim ; 
and  the  devil  immediately  sent  to  the  maiden 
his  foul  spirits,  who  stir  up  lust, 
and  enkindled  the  maiden  to  the  man's  desires. 
Then  she  became  vexed  with  the  exceeding  burning, 
and  fell  down  suddenly,  exclaiming  loudly, 
'  0,  thou  my  father  !  have  pity  on  thy  daughter, 
and  give  me  to  the  man  to  whom  my  mind  enticeth  me, 
else  I  must  die  a  sore  death.' 


74  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

pa  weop  se  feeder  .  wolde  hi  ge-frsefrian '  .  392 

and  cwae'S  mid  mycelre  sarnysse  .  to  ]?8ere  seocan  dehter  ^  . 

Ic  wolde  mid  clsennysse  .  criste  pe  be-weddian 

to  engla  gefserredena  .  to  frofre  minre  sawle  . 

and  pn  pus  wodlice  wilnast  ceorles  .  396 

Heo  ne  rolite  his  worda  for  j^asra  wodlican  ontendnysse  . 

and  cwseS  pcet  heo  sceolde  sweltan  for-ra'Se  . 

gif  se  feeder  nolde  ge-fremman  hyre  wyllan  . 

Se  feeder  Jja  ^set  nextan  .  be  his  freonda  rsede  .  400 

forgeaf  pa  earman  dohter  Jjam  deofles  cnihte  . 

mid  mycclum  sehtam  {sic)  .  and  his  min  nyste  . 

Da  nolde  se  deofles  eniht  .  cuman  n^efre  to  circan  . 

ne  godes  word  ge-hyran  .  ne  ps,  halgan  messan  .  404 

WearS  pa  ge-openad  his  earman  wife  . 

his  manfullan  be-hdt  .  ]?am  hetolan  deofle  . 

and  heo  mid  mycelre  angsumnysse  .  arn  to  basilie  . 

and  cydde  him  be  ende-byrdnysse  hyre  cnihtes  wij)er-s8ec  .      408 

pa  h6t  se  halga  wer  .  hine  to  him  gefeccan  . 

and  be-frdn  gif  hit  swd  wsere  .  swa  his  wlf  him  ssede  . 

and  he  ssede  mid  wope  hu  he  beswican  weart5  . 

pa  axode  se  bisceop  .  wylt  pvL  bugan  eft  to  christe  .  412 

Se  wy]?ersaca  cwsecS  .  ic  wylle  georne  leof  . 

&.C  ic  ne  raeeg  .  ]?eah  ic  wylle  .  for|3an  pe  ic  wi'S-soc  criste  . 

and  on  ge-wryte  afsestnode  pcet  ic  wsere  Jjses  deofles  . 

Se  halga  wer  him  cwsecS  to  .  Ne  hoga  pu  embe  pcet  .  416 

ure  hselend  is  6wi]5e  wel-wyllende  .  and  wyle  pQ  eft  under-fon  . 

gif  ]3U  mid  socSre  dsedbote  gecyrst  eft  to  him  , 

Hwset  Jja  basilius  gebletsode  ]?one  cniht  . 

and  be-leac  hine  on-sundron  .  on  sumere  digelre  stowe  .  420 

and  tsehta  (sic)  him  bota  .  and  ge-bsed  for  hine  . 

Com  eft  ymbe  tSry  dagas  .  axode  hu  he  mihte  . 

Da  cwsecS  se  dsed-beta  .  pa  deoflu  cuma'S  to  me  . 

and  me  swit5e  ge-egsiatS  .  and  eac  swylce  torfiatS  .  4^4 

and  habbatS  him  on  hande  min  agen  hand-ge-wryt  . 

cwetJaS  pcet  ic  come  to  him  and  na  hi  to  me  . 

*  gefrefrian  Oj.  '^  dohter  Oj.  '  Leaf  20, 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  75 

Then  the  father  wept,  desiring  to  comfort  her, 

and  said  with  great  grief  to  the  sick  daughter, 

'  I  desired  through  chastity  to  wed  thee  to  Christ, 

to  the  company  of  angels,  for  the  comfort  of  my  soul, 

and  thou  thus  madly  desirest  a  husband.' 

She  recked  not  of  his  words  on  account  of  the  mad  burning, 

and  said  that  she  must  die  very  quickly, 

if  the  father  would  not  accomplish  her  will. 

Then  the  father  at  last,  by  his  friends'  advice, 

gave  up  the  poor  daughter  to  the  devil's  servant, 

with  much  property,  and  knew  not  his  sin. 

Then  the  devil's  servant  would  never  come  to  church, 

nor  hear  God's  word,  nor  the  holy  mass. 

Then  was  revealed  to  his  poor  wife 

his  wicked  promise  to  the  hateful  devil ; 

and  with  great  anguish  she  ran  to  Basil, 

and  made  known  to  him,  in   order,  her  husband's  apostacy. 

Then  the  holy  man  bade  him  be  fetched  to  him, 

and  enquired  if  it  were  even  as  his  wife  had  told  him ; 

and  he  said,  with  weeping,  how  he  had  been  led  astray. 

Then  the  bishop  asked,  '  Wilt  thou  again  submit  to  Christ  1 ' 

The  apostate  said,  '  I  earnestly  desire  it,  my  lord ; 

but  I  cannot  though  I  wish,  because  I  denied  Christ, 

and  confirmed  in  writing  that  I  was  the  devil's.' 

The  holy  man  said  to  him,  *Be  not  anxious  about  that; 

our  Saviour  is  very  benign,  and  will  receive  thee  again, 

if  thou  with  true  repentance  wilt  turn  again  to  Him.' 

Lo  !  then  Basil  blessed  the  youth, 

and  locked  him  up  apart  in  a  certain  secret  place, 

and  enjoined  him  penances,  and  prayed  for  him. 

He  came  again  after  three  days  and  asked  how  he  was. 

Then  said  the  penitent,  'The  devils  come  to  me, 

and  terrify  me  greatly,  and  also,  as  it  were,  shoot  at  me, 

and  have  in  their  hands  my  own  handwriting, 

saying,  that  I  shall  come  to  them  and  not  they  to  mc. 


76  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

Basilius  him  cweeS  to  .  ne  beo  Su  afyrht  , 

gelyf  sotSlice  on  god  .  and  senode  hine  eft  .  428 

be-leac  eft  pi  duru  .  and  lede  him  his  mete  . 

He  com  eft  ymbe  feawa  daga  .  and  cunnode  j^aes  mannes  . 

Se  cniht  ^  cwseS  to  Sam  halgan  were  .  ic  ge-hyra  (sic)  pa,  deoflu 

feorran  . 
and  hyra  egslican  Jjiwracan  .  ac  ic  hi  ne  ge-seo  .  432 

He  beleac  hine  eft  on  }?a  ylcan  wysan  . 
otS  jjone  feower-teotSogan  dseg  .  and  fandode  his  sitJSan  . 
pa  ssede  se  cnapa  .  pcet  he  swiSe  w6l  mihte  . 
nu  to  deeg  ic  seah  .  hu  ?Su  ofer-switSdest  J)one  deofol  ,  436 

Basilius  pa  on  mergen  .  gebrohte  ]5one  cnapan 
Into  godes  huse  .  and  het  gegaderian  pcet  folc  . 
and  baed  hi  ealle  wacian  .  |>ser  on  niht  mid  him  . 
and  tSingian  ]5am  earman  men  .  to  ]5am  selmihtigan  gode  .     440 
Mid  |3am  pe  hi  switSost  bsedon  .  binnan  j^sera  cyrcan  . 
pa  com  se  wsel-reowa  deofol  .  wolde  genimaii  ]5one  cnapan  . 
of  basiliws  handum  .  hetolice  teonde  . 

and  cwsetS  to  Sam  halgan  .  pcet  he  hine  be-rypte  .  444 

ne  sohte  ic  na  hine  .  ac  h6  sylf  com  to  me  . 
her  ic  habbe  his  hand-ge-wryt  .  pcet  ic  hit  ge-healde  mid  me 
to  para,  ge-msenelican  dome  .  on  pam  mycclum  daege  . 
Da  cwsetS  se  halga  wer  .  we  clypiaS  to  Sam  hselende  .  448 

up-ahafenum  handum  oS  pcet  ]3U  pcet  hand-ge-wryt  agife  . 
Da  clypodon  hi  ealle  .  kyrrieleyson  . 
up  ahafenum  handum  .  wiS  heofonas  weard  . 
and  efne  ]?a  sefter  fyrste  .  feol  pcet  ylce  gewryt  .  452 

ufon  of  Jjsere  lyfte  .  to  Sam  geleaffullan  biscope  . 
He  ]?ancode  J)a  gode  .  mid  gast-licra  blysse  . 
and  axode  Jjoue  cnapan  gif  he  on-cneowe  pcet  ge-wryt  , 
He  cwseS  ic  on-cnawe  ]3as  cartan  fulgeare  .  456 

Jjis  ic  sylf  awrdt  .  J>am  awyrgedan  deofla  . 
Hwset  ]?a  basilius  .  hi  sona  totser  . 

and  gehuslode  )3one  cnapan  .  and  Jjam  haelende  betaehte  . 
and  Iserde  hine  georne  .  hu  h6  lybban  sceolde  .  460 

^  Leaf  20,  back. 


Ill,    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  11 

Basil  said  to  him,  'Be  not  thou  affrighted, 

believe  truly  in  God;'  and  signed  him  [with  the  cross]  again, 

and  locked  the  door  again,  and  brought  him  his  food. 

He  came  again  after  a  few  days,  and  examined  the  man. 

The  youth  said  to  the  holy  man,  'I  hear  the  devils  afar, 

and  their  awful  threats,  but  I  see  them  not,' 

He  locked  him  up  again  in  the  same  manner 

until  the  fourteenth  day,  and  examined  him  afterward. 

Then  said  the  youth  that  he  was  very  well, 

*  Now  to-day  I  saw  how  thou  overcamest  the  devil.' 

Then  Basil  in  the  morning  brought  the  youth 

into  God's  House,  and  bade  gather  the  people, 

and  besought  them  all  to  watch  there  at  night  with  him, 

and  intercede  for  the  poor  man  to  the  Almighty  God, 

While  they  prayed  most  fervently  within  the  church, 

there  came  the  bloodthirsty  devil,  desiring  to  snatch  the  youth 

from  Basil's  hands,  pulling  vehemently, 

and  said  to  the  saint  that  he  had  robbed  him ; 

'  T  sought  him  not,  but  he  himself  came  to  me, 

here  I  have  his  handwriting  that  I  may  keep  it  by  me 

to  the  general  judgment  at  the  great  day.' 

Then  said  the  holy  man,  'We  will  cry  to  the  Saviour 

with  uplifted  hands,  until  thou  givest  up  the  writing.' 

Then  they  all  cried,  Kyrie,  eleison, 

with  hands  uplifted  toward  heaven ; 

and  lo  then  !  after  a  space  the  same  writing  fell 

from  above  out  of  the  air  down  to  the  faithful  bishop. 

Then  he  thanked  God  with  ghostly  bliss, 

and  asked  the  youth  if  he  recognized  the  writing. 

He  said,  'I  recognize  this  paper  full  well, 

this  I  wrote  myself  for  the  accursed  devil.' 

Lo,  then,  Basil  immediately  tore  it  in  pieces, 

and    received  the   youth  to    communion,  and    committed    him  to 

the  Saviour, 
and  taught  him  zealously  how  he  should  live 


78  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII    EPISCOPI. 

*  on  cristes  geleafaii  .  otS  his  lifes  ende  . 
Basilius  se  maera  .  weartS  mycclum  on-bryrd  . 
and  mid  godcundre  beorhtnysse  ge-blyssod  .  for-Jjearle  . 
eode  J?a  ardlice  to  anes  preostes  huse  .  464 

and  het  his  gebrocSra  beon  his  geferan  . 
Anastasius  wees  gehaten  se  arwurj^a  maesse-preost 
Jje  se  bisceop  to  fundode  swd  fserlice  mid  gange  . 
Mid  ]7am  wunode  dn  maeden  mserlice  drohtnigende  .  468 

geond  feowertig  geare  fee  fsegre  gehealden  . 
Heo  wees  mannum  ge]3uht  swylce  heo  his  gemsecca  waere  . 
"Wytodlyce  se  messe-preost  wyste  his  to -cyme  . 
^urh  ]7one  halgan  gast  .  and  wolde  hine  be-hydan  .  472 

ac  se  bisceop  wyste  hwaer  he  waes  ful  geare  . 
and  h6t  hine  msessian  for  his  mserlican  drohtnunga. 
pa  set  Ipeere  messan  ,  wearcS  his  msertS  geswutelod  . 
sw4  pcet  se  halga  gast  hine  ealne  befeng  .  476 

on  fyres  gelycnysse  .  ]?8er  hi  onlocoden  , 
Se  messe-preost  leofode  be  hlafe  and  be  wsetere  . 
and  symle  he  fseste  buton  on  freols-dagum  . 
He  hsefde  senne  lic-'Srowere  .  be-locen  on  anuwi  clyfan  480 

egeslice  to-swoUen  .  and  un-sprecende  fornean  . 
and  hine  tSser  afedde  un-afunden  ot5  pxt  . 
Da  eode  basilius  .  to  c5am  clj'fan  . 

ac  se  preost  nolde  undon  Ipi  duru  mid  cse'ge  .  484 

ac  se  bisceoj)  hi  ge-openade  .  eatSelice  mid  his  worde  . 
and  wacode  ealle  pa,  niht  .  mid  ]3am  wsedlian  hreoflian  . 
biddende  pone  hselend  .  pcet  he  hine  .gehseleda  (sic)  . 
and  gelsedde  hine  on  mergen  forcS  .  swicSe  fgegres  hiwes  .        488 
buton  selcum  womme  .  and  w61  sprecande  . 
pus  wearS  geopenad  se  drwurtSe  msesse-preost  . 
and  pcet  halige  maeden  .  ^  pe  his  buses  gymde  . 
and  se  bisceop  gewende  mid  his  ge-broSrum  hdm  .  49a 

Effrem  waes  gehaten  sum  switSe  halig  abbod  . 
on  waestene  wunigende  .  fela  wundra  wyrcende  . 
and  maneguw  oSrum  ge-bysuode  .  pa  pe  bugan  to  lare  . 
*  Leaf  21,  *  Leaf  2 1,  back. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  79 

in  Christ's  faith,  until  his  life's  end. 

Basil  the  Great  was  much  encouraged, 
and  was  gladdened  exceedingly  with  divine  light. 
He  went  then  quickly  to  a  priest's  house, 
and  bade  his  brethren  be  his  companions. 
Anastasius  was  the  name  of  the  venerable  mass-priest, 
to  whom  the  bishop  went  so  quickly  in  his  journey. 
With  him  dwelt  a  virgin,  living  virtuously, 
about  the  space  of  forty  years,  of  good  repute; 
it  seemed  to  men  as  if  she  were  his  wife. 
Verily  the  mass-priest  knew  his  coming 
through  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  desired  to  hide  himself; 
but  the  bishop  knew  where  he  was  full  readily, 
and  bade  him  say  mass  on  account  of  hiss.  excellent  life. 
Then  at  the  mass  his  virtue  became  manifested, 
so  that  the  Holy  Ghost  encompassed  him  all  over 
in  the  likeness  of  fire,  as  they  were  looking  on. 
The  mass-priest  lived  on  bread  and  water, 
and  he  fasted  ever,  save  on  festival  days. 
He  had  a  leper  shut  up  in  a  cave, 
fearfully  swollen,  and  almost  speechless, 
and  had  fed  him  there  undiscovered  until  then. 
Then  Basil  went  to  the  cave, 

but  the  priest  would  not  undo  the  door  with  a  key ; 
but  the  bishop  opened  it  easily  by  his  word, 
and  watched  all  the  night  with  the  destitute  leper, 
praying  the  Saviour  that  He  would  heal  him, 
and  led  him  forth  in  the  morning  of  a  very  fair  aspect, 
without  any  spot,  and  speaking  well. 
Thus  was  made  manifest  the  venerable  mass-priest, 
and  the  holy  virgin  who  took  care  of  his  house ; 
and  the  bishop  went  home  with  his  brethren. 

A  certain  very  holy  Abbot  was  called  Ephrem, 
dwelling  in  the  desert,  working  many  miracles, 
and    set    an    example    to    many    others    who    submitted    to    his 
teaching. 


80  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILIl    EPISCOPI. 

Da  ge-hyrde  he  be  |?ain  wundrum  j^e  basilius  worhte  .  496 

and  bsed  gelome  set  gode  .  Ipcet  he  him  geswutelode 

hwylc  basilius  wsere  on  wurt5-scype  mid  him  . 

pa  weartS  ]?am  abbode  aet-eowed  .  An  fyren  swer  . 

se  stod  tip  aj^enod  .  otS  ]>&,  steapan  heofonan  .  500 

and  him  com  stemn  ufan  ]?us  clypiende  hlude  . 

Eala  pu  efFrem  eall  swylc  is  basilius 

swylce  J?es  fyrena  sw^r  .  J^e  pn  ge-syhst  h^r  standan  . 

Da  gewende  effrem  of  J)am  westene  sona  504 

to  t5am  halgan  bisceope  Ipcet  h6  hine  ge-sprsece  . 

and  basiliuws  (sic)  sende  sona  him  to-geanes  . 

and  hine  wylcumode  .  swd  swd  h6  wyrSe  wses  . 

and  pa  halgan  him  betweonan  embe  pcet  heofonlice  Iff  .  508 

geornlice  smeadon  .  swycSe  smeajjancollice  . 

^fter  ]33era  halgan  messan  .  mid  J)am  pe  hi  gereordodon 

cwsetS  se  halga  effrem  .  to  ]?am  arwurtSan  biscope  . 

Ic  bidde  pe  arwurtJa  feeder  pcet  ]?u  me  anes  j^inges  tytSige  .    512 

ic  w^t  pcet  Jju  byst  tytSa  .  swa  hwses  swa  ]3u  bytst  set  gode  . 

Bide  nil  set  gode  .  pcet  ic  grecisc  cunne  . 

pa  cwEecS  se  biscop  him  to  .  pu  baede  ofer  mine  mseSe  . 

ac  uton  swa  ]?eah  biddan  ]5as  bena  set  gode  .  516 

Hi  feollan  pSk  on  gebedum  .  and  basilius  cwseS  . 

Hwi  nelt  ]ju  14  effrem  .  nu  tSu  swd  arwurtSe  eart  . 

beon  msesse-preost  and  se  oSer  him  cwseS  to  . 

fortSan  pe  ic  eom  synful  .  pa  ssede  se  biscop  .  520 

eala  gif  ic  hsefde  ^  j^ine  synna  ana  "^  . 

Hi  cneowdon  ]3a  asft  .  and  seffrem  ]7a  sprsec 

mid  greciscum  gereorde  .  god  herigende  . 

and  se  halga  biscop  hine  hadode  to  messe-preoste  .  524 

and  his  wealh-stod  to  diacone  .  and  hi  wendon  eft  on-gean 

to  ]5am  wid-gyllan  westene  .  wuldrigende  god  . 

Sum  swit5e  welig  wif  wses  .  swylce  on  wudewan  hade 

ac  heo  lyfde  sceand-lice  .  swd  sw4  swin  on  raeoxe  .  528 

and  mid  healicum  synnum  hi  sylfe  fordyde  . 

^  Leaf  22.  *  one,  alt.  to  ana. 


III.    SAINT    BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  81 

Then  he  heard  of  the  wonders  which  Basil  wrought, 

and  frequently  besought  God  that  He  would  reveal  to  him 

what  manner   of   man  Basil  was  in  honour  [as  compared]  with 

himself. 
Then  was  shown  to  the  Abbot  a  fiery  column 
which  stood  up  extending  even  to  the  high  heaven, 
and  a  voice  came  to  him  from  above,  thus  crying  aloud, 
'  O,  thou  Ephrem  !  Basil  is  even  such 
as  is  this  fiery  column  which  thou  seest  standing  here.' 
Then  Ephrem  departed  immediately  from  the  deSert 
to  the  holy  bishop,  that  he  might  speak  with  hira, 
and  Basil  sent  straightway  to  meet  him, 
and  welcomed  him,  forasmuch  as  he  was  worthy; 
and  the  saints  betwixt  themselves,  concerning  the  heavenly  life, 
devoutly  meditated,  very  studiously. 
After  the  holy  mass,  while  they  broke  their  fast, 
the  holy  Ephrem  said  to  the  venerable  bishop, 

*  I  pray  thee,  venerable  father,  to  grant  me  one  thing ; 

I  know  that  thou  art   a  dispenser   of  whatsoever  thou  askest  of 

God. 
Pray  now  to  God  that  I  may  know  Greek.' 
Then  said  the  Bishop  to  him,  '  Thou  hast  asked  beyond  my  power, 
but  let  us,  nevertheless,  ask  this  boon  of  God.' 
They  fell  then  to  prayers,  and  Basil  said, 

'  Behold  !  why  wilt  thou  not,  Ephrem,  since  thou  art  so  worthy, 
become  a  mass-priest  ? '     And  the  other  said  to  him, 
'  Because  I  am  sinful.'     Then  said  the  bishop, 

*  Oh,  if  I  had  but  thy  sins  only!' 

Then  they  knelt  again ;  and  Ephrem  then  spake 

in  the  Greek  tongue,  praising  God, 

and  the  holy  Bishop  ordained  him  as  mass-priest, 

and  his  interpreter  as  deacon,  and  they  went  back  again 

to  the  wide-stretching  desert,  glorifying  God. 

A  certain  very  wealthy  woman  was  living  as  if  in  widowhood, 
but  she  lived  shamefully,  even  as  swine  on  a  dunghill, 
and  was  destroying  herself  by  deadly  sins; 

6 


82  III.    DEPOSITIO   SANCTI   BASILII   EPISCOPI. 

Heo  wearS  swa  )?eah  set  nehstan  wundorlice  onbryrd  . 

Jjurh  godes  mynegunge  .  and  ealle  hyre  manlican  dseda  . 

awrdt  on  anre  cartan  .  and  be-worhte  mid  leade  ,  532 

gesohte  J?d  basilium  biddende  and  cwetSende  . 

Eale  J)u  godes  halga  be-seoh  me  to  are  . 

Ealla  mine  synna  .  ic  synfulle  awrdt  . 

on  J^issere  cartan  .  and  ic  com  to  pe  leof  .  536 

and   ic  bidde   Jse  for  godes  lufan  Ipcef   pn  m6   unlyse  )ja  insseg- 

lunge  . 
ac  adylega  Jsa  synna  .  to  dryhtne  me  jjingiende  . 
se  god  J)e  me  forgeaf  Jiis  gode  gejjanc  . 

s6  wyle  pe  ge-hyran  me  ]3ingiende  to  him  .  540 

pa  genam  basilius  se  biscop  pa,  cartan  . 
and  be-seah  to  heofonum  .  and  cwsetS  to  pava.  hselende  , 
Din  agen  daed  is  drihten  .  pcet  Jju  adylegie  synna  . 
Jju  pe  middan-eardes  synna  myld-heort-lice  set-brytst .  544 

eatJelice  }3u  mibt  j^yssere  anre  sawle  synna  . 
adylegian  .  pu  eotSfaesta  drihten  . 
Ealle  ure  synna  synd  mid  pe  awrytene  . 

ac  pin  myld-heortnys  Is  switJe  mycel  .  and  un-asmsegendlic  .  548 
Git  ]?a  basiliuws  gebsed  for  pcet  wif  . 
waciende  pa  niht  .  and  pcet  ge-wryt  ageaf 
J>am  fore-ssedan  wife  .  and  pk  waeron  jja  synna 
ealle  adilegode  butan  anre  synna  .  552 

Seo  wses  seo  meeste  .  and  heo  wearcS  jja  aemod  . 
biddende^  mid  wope  J)one  halgan  wer  . 
pcet  he  pa  mycclan  synne  mild-heort-lice  adilegode  , 
Bwd  swd  he  dide  ]3a  otSre  .  J)urh  his  drihtnes  unnan  .  556 

}3a  cwsecS  se  erce-biscop  .  Ic  eom  eac  synful  . 
and  myltse  behofige  .  pees  heofonlican  dryhtnes  . 
Ac  far  pe  to  westene  .  and  J?u  fintst  anne  wer 
haliges  lifes  .  se  hatte  effrem  ,  560 

agif  him  jsas  cartan  .  and  cy]?  him  ymbe  pe  . 
and  he  mid  gebedum  gegladaj?  god  selmihtigne  . 
pcet  wif  gewende  ]7a  to  tSam  westene  swiSe  . 
*  Leaf  22,  back. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,   BISHOP.  83 

however,  she  became  at  last  wonderfully  moved 
through  God's  warning,  and  wrote  all  her  wicked  deeds 
on  a  paper,  and  sealed  it  with  lead; 
Then  she  sought  Basil,  praying  and  saying, 
*  Oh,  thou  saint  of  God  !     Look  on  me  with  mercy; 
all  my  sins  I,  a  sinner,  have  written 
on  this  paper,  and  I  have  come  to  thee,  beloved  one, 
and  I  pray  thee,  for  God's  love,  to  unloose  for  me  this  seal, 
and  blot  out  the  sins,  interceding  for  me  to  the  Lord ; 
the  God  who  gave  me  this  good  thought. 
He  will  hear  thee,  interceding  to  Him  for  me.' 
Then  Basil  the  bishop  took  the  paper, 
and  looked  up  to  heaven,  and  said  to  the  Saviour, 
'  Thine  own  deed,  Lord,  is  it  to  blot  out  sins ; 
Thou  who  mercifully  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
easily  Thou  canst  blot  out  the  sins 
of  this  one  soul,  Thou  righteous  Lord  ! 
All  our  sins  are  written  down  with  Thee, 
but  Thy  mercy  is  very  great  and  unsearchable.' 
Still  Basil  prayed  for  the  woman, 
keeping  vigil  that  night,  and  gave  back  the  writing 
to  the  aforesaid  woman,  and  then  were  the  sins 
all  blotted  out,  save  one  of  the  sins, 

which  was  the  greatest,  and  she  became  then  disheartened, 
praying,  with  weeping,  the  holy  man, 
that  he  would  mercifully  blot  out  the  great  sin, 
even  as  he  did  the  others  through  his  Lord's  grant. 
Then  said  the  archbishop,  '  I  also  am  sinful, 
and  need  mercy  of  the  heavenly  Lord ; 
but  go  thou  to  the  desert,  and  thou  shalt  find  a  man 
of  holy  life,  who  is  called  Ephrem ; 

give  him  this  writing,  and  make  known  to  him  concerning  thy- 
self, 
and  he  with  prayers  shall  gladden  Almighty  God.' 
The  woman  then  went  to  the  desert  quickly^; 

*  There  is  an  abrupt  transition  here,  but  nothing  is  lost ;  see  1,  633. 

6-2 


84  III.    DEPOSITIO   SANCTI   BASILII   EPISCOPI. 

and  basilius  weartS  gebroht  on  legere  564 

to  his  for?Ssi?Se  .  fore-wittig  swa  j^eah  . 

An  seipeh  Isece  wses  wunigende  on  ]?8ere  byrig  . 

losEP  gehaten  .  hee'Sen  and  ludeisc  . 

se  cu(5e  to-cnawan  gif  he  cunnode  Jjses  mannes  .  568 

be  his  sedrena  hrepunge  .  hwetSer  he  hratSe  swulte  , 

and  Basilivs  wiste  Jjurh  godes  onwrigennysse  . 

Ipcet  h6  sceolde  ]7one  Isece  to  ge-leafan  bringan 

and  on  fante  fullian  .  aer  his  fortS-sitSe  .  572 

f)a  lufode  he  hine  fortSi  .  and  gelome  hine  ge-sprsec  , 

tihtende  to  ge-leafan  .  J^eah  pe  he  lange  wi'S-soce  . 

Da  on  sumuw.  dsege  sende  basilius  . 

eefter  Sam  ylcan  Isece  swylce  he  his  lacnunga  gyrnde  .    .         576 

and  het  hine  sceawian  be  his  seocnysse  . 

axude  ]3a  hu  him  Jjuhte  .  and  se  ocSer  him  andwyrde  , 

GearciatS  pa,  J?ing  .  pe  eow  gewunelice  synd  , 

to  bebyrigunge  .  pes  biscop  gewit  hratSe  .  580 

Da  cwseS  se  erce-biscop  .  to  tSam  se'Selan  Isece  . 

nastu  hwset  Jju  saegst  .  peah.  pu  swd  ne  wene  . 

Se  Isece  him  cwaeS  to  .  Ne  lyfastu  otS  sefen  . 

]3a  cwsetS  basilius  .  hwaet  gif  ic  bide  merigenes  .  584 

Se  ebreisca  cwse]?  eft  .  Ne  biS  hit  swa  langsum  . 

^  Ane  tid  ic  wene  .  pcet  Jjin  sawul  wunige  on  ]3e  . 

ac  gefada  ]?ine  ping  .  for  Jjan  pe  ic  pe  ssecge  . 

pcet  pes  dseg  ne  ge-endaS  ofer  'Se  cucena  .  588 

Da  cwceS  basilius  mid  blySum  mode  him  to  . 

Hwset  destu  gif  ic  to  mergen  mid-deges  gebide  . 

Se  ebreisca  cwseS  .  sylf  ic  swelte  ]?onne  . 

Se  halga  wer  ssede  .  Jju  scealt  sweltan  synna  ,  592 

and  criste  lybban  .  ]3urh  geleafan  awend  . 

Se  laece  him  andwyrde  .  and  cwsetS  .  pcet  he  gelyfan  wolde  . 

and  his  wyllan  gefreman  .  gif  he  wunode  of  ^  mid-daeg  . 

He  be-h^t  pa.  mid  aSe  pcet  he  to  ]3am  hselende  gebuge  .  596 

and  fuUuht  under-fenge  ,  gif  se  halga  faeder  leofode  . 

*  Leaf  23.  '^  Eead  o5. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  85 

and  Basil  was  brought  by  disease 

near  to  his  departure,  foreknowing  it  however. 

A  noble  leech  was  dwelling  in  the  city, 
called  Joseph,  a  heathen  and  a  Jew ; 
he  knew  how  to  distinguish,  if  he  examined  a  man, 
by   the    feeling    of  his    veins    (pulses),    whether   he    would    die 

soon; 
and  Basil  knew,  through  God's  revelation, 
that  he  should  bring  the  leech  to  the  faith, 
and  baptize  him  in  the  font  ere  his  departure ; 
he  loved  him  therefore,  and  frequently  spake  with  him, 
persuading  him  to  the  faith,  though  he  long  opposed  it. 
Then  on  a  certain  day  Basil  sent 
after  the  same  leech,  as  if  he  required  his  healing, 
and  bade  him  examine  concerning  his  sickness  : 
then  he  asked  how  it  seemed  to  him,  and  the  other  answered  him, 
'  Prepare  the  things  which  are  customary  amongst  you 
for  burial ;  this  bishop  will  soon  die.' 
Then  said  the  archbishop  to  the  noble  leech, 
'  Thou  knowest  not  what  thou  sayest,  though  thou  ■ween  it  not.' 
The  leech  said  to  him,  '  Thou  wilt  not  live  till  evening.' 
Then  said  Basil,  '  What  if  I  bide  till  morning  1 ' 
The  Hebrew  said  again,  *  It  will  not  be  so  long ; 
for  one  hour,  I  think,  thy  soul  shall  remain  in  ihee; 
but  set  in  order  thy  affairs,  because  I  say  to  thee 
that  this  day  will  not  close  over  thee  alive.' 
Then  said  Basil  with  blithe  mood  to  him, 
'  What  wilt  thou  do  if  I  bide  till  to-morrow  at  mid-day  'i' 
The  Hebrew  said,  'I  myself  will  die  then.' 
The  holy  man  said,  *  Thou  shalt  die  to  sin 
and  live  to  Christ,  converted  through  faith.' 
The  leech  answered  him,  and  said  that  he  would  believe 
and  perform  his  will,  if  he  lived  until  mid-day. 
He   promised  too  with   an    oath,  that  He  would   submit  to  the 

Saviour, 
and  receive  baptism,  if  the  holy  father  lived. 


86  III.   DEPOSITIO   SANCTI   BASILII   EPISCOPI. 

Hwset  tSa  basilius  bsed  J?one  aelmihtigan  god 

Ipcet  he  his  lif  gelengde  |jam  Igece  to  hsele  . 

Se  biscop  ]?a  leofode  swa  swa  he  bsed  set  gode  .  600 

and  on  mergen  ge-langode  J)one  Isece  him  to  . 

8e  iudeisca  Jia  com  .  and  cwsetS  mid  wundrunge 

mid  ealre  heortan  ,  Ic  ssecge  poet  crist  is  sotS  god  . 

and  heonan-fortS  wi?5-sace  mid  so?5um  ge-leafan  604 

l^am  hatigend-licum  bigengum  .  pe  'Sa  ludeiscan  healdatS  . 

Hat  me  nu  fullian  .  and  mine  hi  wan  ealle 

on  ]3sea  hselendes  naman  .  buton  elcunge  . 

Se  serce-biscop  cwaetS  .  Ic  eow  ealle  fullige  .  608 

mid  minum  agenum  handum  .  tSine  hiwan  ,  and  pe  . 

J)a  grapode  se  Isece  his  lima  eft  .  and  cwaetJ  . 

Din  msegn  is  aterod  .  and  ]pa  mihte  pu  ngefst  . 

Basilius  him  cwsecS  to  .  "We  habbatS  J?one  scyppend  .  612 

pe  pcet  gecynd  gesc^op  .  and  se  us  ge-strangatS  . 

He  ards  tJa  mid  |?am  worde  .  and  eode  to  cyrcean  . 

and  setforan  J^am  folce  gefuUode  Jjone  Joseph  . 

mid  eallum  his  hiwum  .  and  ge-huslode  hi  siStSan  ,  616 

and  Iserde  hi  georne  .  be  'Sam  ecan  life  . 

SiJ)]3an  he  messode  mannum  to  nones  . 

and  Iserde  hi  georne  .  and  luPlice  hi  cyste  , 

and  genam  ?Sone  dsel  ]?8es  deorwurSan  busies  ,  620 

pe  se  hselend  gehalgode  .  pe  he  heold  otS  p2dt . 

and  sefter  |?8ere  huslunge  .  mid  herunga  ge-wdt  , 

to  para  lifigendan  gode  .  pe  he  mid  geleafan  wurcSode  , 

mid  jjam  he  wunacS  on  blysse  .  d  butan  ende.     AMEN.  624 

Hwset  pa.  se  Isece  pe  'Sser  gelyfed  wses  . 
feoll  uppon  his  breost  .  mid  flowendum  tearum  . 
and  cwoe'S  mid  wope  .  wella  basilius  . 

gif  ?Su  sylf  noldest  .  nsere  J)u  git  for^-faran  .  628 

J5a  com  mycel  meniu  on  mergen  to  tSam  lice  . 
and  Gregorius  bisceop  .  pe  mid  basilic  leornode  . 
and  otSre  fela  bisceopas  .  and  gebrohten  pcet  lie  - 

^  Leaf  23,  back. 


III.     SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  87 

So  then  Basil  prayed  the  Almighty  God, 

that  he  would  lengthen  his  life  for  the  salvation  of  the  leech. 

Then  the  Bishop  lived  even  as  he  had  besought  of  God, 

and  in  the  morning  summoned  the  leech  to  him. 

Then  the  Jew  came,  and  said,  with  astonishment, 

'With  all  my  heart  I  say  that  Christ  is  true  God, 

and  henceforth  renounce  with  true  faith 

the  hateful  rites  which  the  Jews  practise; 

command  me  to  be  baptized,  and  all  my  household, 

in  the  Saviour's  name  without  delay.' 

The  archbishop  said,  'I  will  baptize  you  all 

with  mine  own  hands,  thy  household  and  thee.' 

Then  the  leech  felt  his  limbs  once  more  and  said, 

'  Thy  strength  hath  failed,  and  thou  hast  no  power.' 

Basil  said  to  him,  '  "We  have  the  Creator, 

Who  created  nature,  and  He  will  strengthen  us.' 

Then  with  that  saying  he  arose  and  went  to  xjhurch, 

and,  before  the  people,  baptized  Joseph 

with  all  his  household,  and  received  them  afterwards  to  communion, 

and  taught  them  zealously  concerning  the  eternal  life. 

Afterward  he  said  mass  for  the  people  until  noon, 

and  taught  them  zealously,  and  lovingly  kissed  them, 

and  received  the  portion  of  the  precious  housel 

which  the  Saviour  had  consecrated,  which  he  had  reserved  until 

then, 
and  after  the  houselling,  departed  with  praises 
to  the  living  God  whom  he  had  worshipped  faithfully, 
with  whom  he  dwelleth  in  bliss  ever  without  end.     Amen. 

Lo  !  then  the  leech  who  had  there  become  a  believer, 
fell  upon  his  breast  with  flowing  tears, 
and  said  with  weeping,  '  Alas,   Basil  ! 
if  thou  thyself  hadst  been  unwilling,  thou  wouldst  not  yet  have 

departed.' 
Then  came  a  great  multitude  in  the  morning  to  the  corpse, 
and  bishop  Gregory,  who  had  learned  with  Basil, 
and  many  other  bishops,  and  brought  the  corpse 


88  III.    DEPOSITIO    SANCTI    BASILII   EPISCOPI. 

mid  gastlicum  sangum  .  Into  gocles  cyrcean  .  632 

"We  wyllaS  nu  ful  ssecgan  be  Sam  synfuUan  wife  . 
Jje  basilius  sende  .  mid  J^sere  anre  synne 
to  effremme  )7am  abbude  .  pcet  he  'Sa  An  adylogode  . 
pcet  wif  becom  set  nextan  ]?urh  pcet  widgylle  westen  .  636 

to  tSam  halgan  efFrem  .  and  he  wiste  hyre  fser  . 
Suruh  godes  onwrigennysse  .  and  hwset  heo  wolde  J?jer  . 
and  cwsetS  hire  sona  to  .  ic  eom  synful  mann  . 
Heo  awearp  ]>&  cartan  Sa  .  and  cwse'S  to  effremme  .  640 

Se  serce-biscop  me  sende  socSlice  to  Se  . 
\)(jet  Ipn  tSas  ane  synne  .  j^e  on  }>yssere  ymlan  stent  . 
J?urh  ]jine  ge-bedu  adilige  .  swa  swa  he  dyde  J7a  otSre  . 
Se  halga  effrem  cwsetS  .  nese  nese  doiitor  .  644 

ac  se  (56  pa.  manega  synne  mihte  adilegian  , 
]3urh  his  Jjing-rsedene  cSa  Jsa  t5u  hine  bsede 
se  mseg  bet  ]?one  ic  biddan  for  tSsere  anre  . 

Gang  ongean  hracSe  to  Sara  godes  menn  .  64S 

])(et  Su  hine  befo  ser  his  forSsiSe  . 
J7a  am  pcet  earme  wif  ofer  pcet  westen  switSe  . 
0(S  pcet  heo  to  J^aere  byrig  be-com  .  jjser  man  bser  basilium  . 
and  feoU  tSa  to  eorSan  .  flitende  wiS  }?one  halgan  .  652 

poet  he  hi  asende  .  fram  him  sylfura  to  westene  . 
•  on  swa  mycelne  weg  .  and  ne  wearS  gefrefrod  . 
Heo  wearp  pa  mid  J?am  Jjset  gewryt  on  ?Sa  bsere  . 
and  cydde  paxa  mannum  be  hyre  misdsedum  .  656 

^pa  wolde  an  tSsera  preosta  .  wytan  pa  synne  . 
and  sceawode  pa  cartan  .  and  clypode  to  Sam  wife  . 
To  hwi  swincst  pn  la  wif  .  Jjeos  carte  is  adilegod  . 
Seo  syn  weartS  pa  adilegod  .  Jjurh  drihtnes  mildsunge  .  660 

swa  swa  basilius  wolde  .  pe  Sa  wuldrode  mid  gode  . 
Da  fsegnode  pcet  wif  .  and  pcet  folc  wuldrode  . 
J>one  lifigendan  god  .  pe  lyfaS  on  ecnysse  . 

His  lie  wearS  be-byrged  on  cessariam  byrig  664 

cappadoniscre  scyre  .  j^ser  ]5ser  he  sylf  biscop  wses  . 

*  Leaf  24. 


III.    SAINT   BASILIUS,    BISHOP.  89 

with  ghostly  songs  into  God's  church. 

We  will  now  relate  fully  concerning  the   sinful  woman 
whom  Basil  sent  with  the  one  sin 

to  Ephrem  the  abbot,  that  he  might  blot  out  that  one. 
The  woman  came  at  last  through  the  wide  desert 
to  the  holy  Ephrem,  and  he  knew  all  about  her  life 
through  God's  revelation,  and  what  she  desired  there, 
and  said  to  her  instantly,  '  I  am  a  sinful  man.' 
Then  she  drew  out  the  paper,  and  said  to  Ephrem, 
'  The  archbishop  sent  me  verily  to  thee, 
that  thou  mightest  blot  out  this  one  sin,  which  standeth  in  this 

scroll, 
through  thy  prayers,  even  as  he  did  the  others,' 
The  holy  Ephrem  said,  'Nay,  nay,  daughter, 
but  he  who  could  blot  out  the  many  sins 
through  his  intercession,  when  thou  didst  beseech  him, 
he  can,  better  than  I,  pray  for  this  one : 
Go  again  quickly  to  the  man  of  God 
that  thou  mayest  reach  him  before  his  death.' 
Then  ran  the  poor  woman  over  the  desert  swiftly, 
until  she  came  to  the  city  where  they  bare  Basil, 
and  fell  then  to  the  earth,  chiding  with  the   saint, 
that  he  had  sent  her  from  himself  to  the  desert 
on  so  great  a  journey,  and  she  had  not  been  comforted. 
Then  with  that  she  threw  the  writing  on  the  bier, 
and  told  the  men  concerning  her  misdeeds. 
Then  one  of  the  priests  desired  to  know  the  sin, 
and  looked  at  the  paper,  and  cried  to  the  woman; 
•  Wherefore   labourest   thou,    oh    woman  ?   this  paper    is   blotted 

out.' 
So  the  sin  was  blotted  out  through  the  Lord's  mercy, 
even  as  Basil  desired  who  was  then  in  glory  with  God. 
Then  the  woman  rejoiced,  and  the  people  glorified 
the  living  God  who  liveth  in  eternity. 
His  body  was  buried  in  the  city  of  Csesarea, 
in  the  province  of  Cappadocia,  where  he  himself  had  been  bishop; 


90       IV.    PASSIO    SANCTl   IVLIANI    ET   SPONSE    EIVS    BASILISSE. 

inaneguwi  fremiende  .  mid  mycelre  lare  . 

and  he  sylf  wolde  Bweltan  for  rihte 

ser  (5am  pe  he  for-suwode  Jjone  soSan  gelyfan  .  668 

betwux  })am  gedwol-raannum  pe  hine  drehton  for-oft  . 

for  t5i  he  wuldratS  nu  .  d  .  to  worulde  mid  gode.    AMEN,    670 


lY. 

IDVS  IANYAK77.  PASSIO  SANCTl  IVLIANI  ET  SPONSE 
EIVS  BASILISSE. 

[Another  copy,  much  burnt  and  very  defective,  is  in  MS.  Otho,  B.  x.  fol.  7. 
See  1.  37.     I  give  the  various  readiugs,  marked  '  0.'] 

IVLIANVS   WiES    GEHATEN   .    SUM   .^DELE   GODES    BEGN  . 
ON  egypta  lande  .  on  antiochian  J^aere  byrig  . 
Se  W8es  setSel-boren  of  sewfestum  magum  . 

and  on  cristes  lare  ge-lsered  .  frara  geogoJ)e.  4 

pa  wolde  his  feeder  .  and  his  frynd  ealle  . 
pcet  he  wifian  sceolde  Jia  t5a  he  eahtetyne  ggera  wses  . 
ac  iulianus  cwse'S  pcet  he  cunnian  wolde 

his  drihtnes  wyllan  hu  he  wolde  be  him  ,  8 

He  wear's  Jsa  ge-bysgod  on  his  ge-bedum  seofan  niht  . 
bced  fione  selmihtigan  crist  poet  he  his  clsennysse  geheolde  . 
Da  set-eowde  se  hgelend  hine  sylfne  on  swefne 
psim  sejselan  cnihte  on  Ssere  eahteotSan  nihte  .  la 

and  cwseS  pcet  he  sceolde  sotSlice  underfon  mseden 
him  to  gemacan  .  pe  hine  ne  moste  ascyrian 
fram  his  clsenan  lufe  pe  he   gecoren  hsefde . 
Se  hselend  him  cwsetS  to  .  Ic  beo  sylf  mid  pe  .  \6 

and  on  pe  adwesce  ealle  ontendnysse  . 
and  pcet  mseden  ic  ge-bige  .  eac  to  minre  lufe  . 
and  on  eowrum  bryd-bedde  .  ic  beo  eow  set-eowed  . 
and  jjurh  eow  me  bitJ  ge-halgod  manegra  otSre  clennysse  20 

'  and  ic  j^e  under-fo  mid  Sinum  mgedene  to  heofonum  . 

*  Leaf  24,  back. 


IV.    PASSION   OF    ST.  JULIAN    AND    HIS    WIPE    BASILISSA.         91 

profiting  many  by  his  great  learning, 

and  he  himself  desired  to  die  for  the  right, 

ere  he  would  be  silent  concerning  the  true  faith 

amongst  the  heretics  who  very  often  vexed  him. 

Therefore  he  is  now  in  glory  for  ever  with  God.      Amen. 


IV. 

JAN.  9\     PASSION    OF   ST.   JULIAN  AND    HIS  WIFE 
BASILISSA. 

A  certain  noble  servant  of  God  was  called  Julian 

in  the  land  of  Egypt,  in  the  city  of  Antioch, 

who  was  nobly  bom  of  pious  parents 

and  instructed  in  Christ's  lore  from  his  youth. 

Then  his  father  desired,  and  all  his  friends  likewise, 

that  he  should  marry,  when  he  was  eighteen  years  old. 

But  Julian  said  that  he  wished  to  find  out 

his  Lord's  will,  how  He  willed  concerning  him. 

Then  was  he  busied  in  his  prayers  for  seven  nights, 

and   prayed   the   almighty  Christ   that   He   would   preserve   his 

chastity. 
Then  the  Saviour  shewed  himself  in  a  dream 
to  the  noble  knight  on  the  eighth  night, 
and  said  that  he  must  verily  take  a  maiden 
as  a  mate  for  himself,  who  would  not  sever  him 
from  his  pure  life,  such  as  he  had  chosen. 
Jesus  said  to  him,  'I  myself  will  be  with  thee, 
and  will  quench  in  thee  all  desire, 
and  will  incline  the  maiden  also  to  love  of  Me. 
And  in  your  bride-bed  I  will  be  manifested  to  you, 
and  through  you  the  purity  of  many  others  shall  be  hallowed 

unto  Me, 
and  I  will  receive  thee,  with  thy  maiden,  to  heaven.' 

•  The  Ides  of  January  correspond  to  Jan.  13.     The  right  day  is  Jan.  9. 


92      IV.    PASSIO    SANCTI    IVLIANI    ET    SPONSE    EIVS    BASILISSE. 

Da  awoc  lulianus  gewyssod  J?urh  his  drihten  . 

cwsetS  to  his  freondum  .  poet  he  on-fon  wolde  . 

raseden  him  to  gemacan  .  and  hi  mycclum  pses  fsegnodon  .        24 

pa  fundon  his  magas  sum  se^el-bdren  mseden 

basilissa  gehaten  .  and  him  pa.  begeaten  . 

pa  wurdon  gegearcode  J)a  gyftu  sefter  gewunan  . 

^and  hi  butu  coman  on  anum  bedde  to-somne.  28 

Hw3et  tJa  iulianus  hine  georne  ge-bsed  . 

to  tSam  hselende  criste  .  poet  he  hine  geheolde  . 

wits  ealla  ontendnysse  .  and  yfele  costnunga  . 

Da  wearcS  poet  bryd-bed  mid  brsetJe  afylled  .  32 

swylce  Jjser  Isegon  .  lilie  and  rose  . 

Da  cwsetS  basilissa  to  jpam  clsenan  brydguman  . 

Hit  is  winter-tid  nu  and  ic  wundrie  J?earle 

hwanon  )?es  wyrt-brsecS  Jjus  wynsumlice  steme  .  36 

and  me  nu  ne  lyst  .  nanes  synscipes  . 

ac  J)8es  hselendes  gej^eodnysse  mid  ge-healdenre  clennisse  . 

lulianus  andwyrde  J)am  secSelan  msedene  . 

J)es  wynsuman  brseS  pe  'Su  wundrast  Jjearle  .  40 

nsefcS  nan  angin  .  ne  eac  nsenne  sende  . 

pes  brsetS  is  of  criste  setSe  is  clsennysse  lufigend  . 

gif  wit  jJurh-wunia'S  on  ansundum^  mseg'S-hade  . 

and  hine  clsenlice  lufiacS  .  j^onne  cume  wit^  to  his  rice  .  44 

and  wit*  ne  beocS  to-twsemede  .  do  d^  to  worulde  blyssia'S  . 

Basilissa  cwse'S  .  pcet  heo  on  clsenuw  maeg'S-hade 

J?urh-wunian  wolde    .  for  ^am  wynsuman  behate  . 

and  habban  pcet  ece  lif  .  and  'Sone  hselend  to  bryd-guman  .      48 

pa  clypode  iulianus  on  cneow-gebedum  Sus  . 

Gonfirma  hoc  deus  .  quod  operatus  es  in  nobis  .  et  reliqna. 

Gefsestna  J)is  hselend  .  pcet  pcet  c5u  on  us  gewyrcst  . 

and  basilissa  sona  swa  ge-lice  dyde  .  52 

pa  astyrede  pcet  bryd-bed  .  and  beorht  leoht  Jjser  sc^an  . 

®and  ''crist  wears'^  gesewen  mid  scinendum  werode  . 

and  his  modur  maria  mid  hyre  msedenlicum  heape  . 

^  See  MS.  Otho  B.  x.  fol.  7  (as  now  numbered).        ^  anwealgum  O.         ^  we  O. 
*  wyt  0.         5  0  om.  st.         «  Leaf  25.         ^-'^  crist  sylf  wear^  })8er  O. 


IV.    PASSION   OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND   HIS   WIPE   BASILISSA.       93 

Then  awoke  Julian,  instructed  by  his  Lord, 
and  said  to  his  friends  that  he  would  take 
a  maiden  for  his  spouse;  and  they  were  greatly  glad  of  it. 
Then  his  kinsmen  found  a  certain  nobly-horn  maiden, 
named  Basilissa,  and  obtained  her  for  him. 
Then  was  prepared  the  marriage,  according  to  custom, 
and  they  two  came  into  one  bed  together. 
Well,  then  !  Julian  eagerly  prayed 
to  Jesus  Christ,  that  He  would  preserve  him 
against  all  desire  and  evil  temptation. 
Then  was  the  bride-bed  filled  with  fragrance 
just  as  though  a  lily  and  a  rose  were  lying  there. 
Then  said  Basilissa  to  the  pure  bridegroom, 
*It  is  now  winter-time,  and  I  greatly  wonder 
whence  this  fragrance  of  flowers  thus  wonderfully  rises; 
and  now  I  have  no  desire  for  any  sinfulness, 
but  (feel)  only  desire  for  the  Saviour,  with  preserved  chastity.' 
Julian  answered  the  noble  maiden, 

'  Tliis  winsome  fragrance,  at  which  thou  greatly  wonderest, 
hath  no  beginning,  nor  eke  any  end. 
This  fragrance  is  from  Christ  who  is  lover  of  purity; 
if  we  two  continue  in  unbroken  chastity 
and  purely  love  Him,  then  shall  we  come  to  His  kingdom, 
and  we  two  shall  never  be  severed,  but  shall  rejoice  for  ever.* 
Basilissa  said  that  she  desired  to  continue 
in  pure  maidenhood,  because  of  that  winsome  promise, 
so  as  to  have  the  life  eternal,  and  the  Saviour  for  her  bride- 
groom.' 
Then  cried  Julian  on  his  knees,  in  his  prayers,  thus: 
*  Confirm  this,  0  Lord,  that  thou  hast  wrought  in  us,'  &c., 
Confirm  this.  Saviour,  that  thou  workest  in  us. 
And  soon  Basilissa  did  even  the  like. 
Then  the  bride-bed  shook,  and  a  bright  light  shone  there, 
and  Christ  was  visible,  with  a  shining  host, 
and  His  mother  Mary  with  her  virgin  train. 


94       IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET   SPONSE   EIVS   BASILISSE. 

Crist  clypode  )?a  to  t5am  clgenan  cnihte  .  56 

and  cwaeS  pcet  he  hsefde  oferswi'Sod 
woruldlice  gselsan  .  and  Jjone  gramlican  feond  . 
Of  marian  werode  wses  )?us  geclypod  . 

Eadig  eart  \)u.  basilissa  .  for|5an  Ipe  pu  gebygdest  60 

Jjin  mod  to  halwendum  mynegungum  . 
and  middan-eardlice  swsesnysse  mid  ealle  forsihst  . 
and  J?e  sylfe  gearcost  to  wuldre  . 

pa  com  to  t5am  bedde  boc  fram  Jjam  baelende  .  64 

and  twegen  his  halgan  mid  twam  cynehelmum  . 
arserdan  hi  ]?a  upp  .  and  heton  hi  rsedan  . 
Da  rsedde  iulianus  |3as  word  on  j^gere  b^c . 

Se  pe  for  minre  lufe  middan-eard  forsihS  .  68 

he  bits  sotJlice  geteald  to  J?am  unbesmitenum  halgum  , 
pe  nseran  on  heora  life  besmitene  mid  wifum . 
Basilissa  bitS  geteald  to  Jssera  meedena  getsele 
Jjc  marian  folgiatS  )?8es  hselendes  meder  ,  72 

jEfter  ]?issere  rsedinge  .  and  oSrum  tihtingum  . 
ge-wendon  ]?a  halgan  to  j^am  hselende  upp  . 
Hwset  J3a  iulianus  ungewaemmede  heold  his  bryde  . 
and  hi  woeron  getSeodde  mid  Bot5re  clsennysse  j6 

gastlice  Jpeonde  on  godes  gewytnysse  . 
Heora  fsederas  wseron  gefyrn  cristene  . 
Hit  gelamp  pa.  ratSe^  .  poet  hi  of  life  gewytan  . 
and  Isefdon  heora  sehta  ]3am  setSelum  mannum  .  80 

Iulianus  Jja  dselde  .  be  his  drihtnes  wyssunga'* 
heora  land  are  .  pe  him  leafed  wses  . 
and  arserde  him  mynster  and  his  msedene  oSer  . 
He  wearS  pa  feeder  ofer  faela  ^  muneca  .  84 

and  basilissa  modor  ofer  manega  mynecena  . 
and  hi  ]5a  gastlican  werod  under  gode*  gewyssodon  . 
on  daeg-hwamlicre  lare  to  heora  dryhtnes  wyllan  . 
o]?  p(Bt  se  retSe  sehtnysse  on  egj'pta  lande  becom  .  88 

fram  ]jam  ^  wel-hreowan  casere  j^e  wses  geciged  dioclytianus  . 
pa  gebsedon  .  i[?a  halgan  hi  to  J3am  hselende  . 
1  hitLpe  0.        »  willan  0.        ^  fgj^  0.        *  0  inserts  well.        »  Leaf  25,  back. 


IV.    PASSION    OF    ST.  JULIAN    AND    HIS    WIFE   BASILISSA,        95 

Christ  called  out  then  to  the  pure  knight, 

and  said  that  he  had  overcome 

worldly  luxury  and  the  angry  fiend. 

By  Mary's  host  it  was  thus  spoken, 

'Blessed  art  thou,  Basilissa,  because  thou  didst  incline 

thy  mind  to  salutary  admonitions, 

and  wholly  despisest  worldly  delight, 

and  preparest  thyself  for  glory.' 

Then  came  to  the  bed  a  book  from  the  Saviour, 

and  two  of  His  saints,  with  two  crowns, 

then  raised  them  up,  and  bade  them  read. 

Then  read  Julian  in  the  book  this  word, 

*  He  that  for  my  sake  despiseth  the  world 

he  verily  shall  be  counted  among  the  unsullied  saints 

that  never  in  their  lives  were  polluted  with  women. 

Basilissa  shall  be  counted  among  the  number  of  virgins 

who  follow  Mary,  the  Saviour's  mother.' 

After  this  reading  and  other  persuasions 

the  saints  returned  back  to  the  Saviour. 

Thus  Julian  kept  his  bride  unpolluted, 

and  they  were  associated  in  true  chastity, 

increasing  in  the  spirit,  in  testimony  to  God. 

Their  parents  had  been  Christians  long  before; 

and  it  soon  happened  that  they  departed  this  life, 

and  left  their  possessions  to  the  noble  pair. 

Julian  then  distributed,  by  the  Lord's  instruction, 

the  wealth  of  their  land  that  was  left  to  them, 

and  reared  for  himself  a  minster,  and  for  his  bride  another. 

Then  he  became  a  father  over  many  monks, 

and  Basilissa  a  mother  over  many  nuns, 

and  they,  under  God,  instructed  the  ghostly  host 

in  daily  lore  according  to  their  Lord's  will, 

until  the  cruel  persecution  came  upon  the  land  of  Egypt 

from  the  bloodthirsty  emperor,  who  was  named  Diocletian. 

Then  prayed  the  saints  to  the  Saviour, 


96       IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET   SPONSE   EIVS   BASILISSE. 

and  he  him  asencle  Ipisne  frofer  pus  cwseSende  . 
Eala  Jju  basilissa  j^ine  gebedu  synd  gefyllede  9  a 

pcet  ealle  J?ine  msedenii  of  middan-earde  gewitaS 
ser  (San  pe  seo  arlease  ehtnys  ,  ofer  eow  be-cume  . 
pcet  ge  ne  beon  ge-wera-mede  .  Jjurh  tSa  wodan  ehteras  . 
Hit  wearS  J^a  gefylled  .  swa  swa  him  fore-sgede  god  ,  96 

pcet  ealle  t5a  femnan  pe  folgodon  basilissan 
gewytan  of  worulde  to  J?am  wuldor-fuUau  hselende  , 
and  basilissa  siScSan  so'Slice  gelaSod  . 

gewat  on  msegShade  of  middan-earde  to  criste  .  loo 

and  iuliantfs  mid  blisse  hi  bebyrgde  mid  his  munecum  . 
And  he  abdd  on  life  mid  his  leofan  gebro'Srum 
tihtende  hi  geornlice  .  to  'Sam  to-werdan  gecampe  . 
Da  com  martianus  se  man-fulla  cwsellere  .  104 

Into  antiochian  Jjsere  egyptiscan  byrig  . 
mid  ormettre  ehtnysse  .  fram  ]?am  arleasan  casere  . 
He  sette  tSa  gebann  jjset  nan  mann  bicgan  ne  moste  . 
otSSe  senig  ping  syllan  buton  he  onsseged-nysse  .  108 

geoflfrode  J)am  leasum  deofol-gyldum  .  and  his  drihten  AvitS-soce  . 
Him  wear's  pa  ge-ssed  .  be  Sam  soSan  geleafan  . 
pe  lulianus  heold  mid  his  halgum  gebroSrum  . 
and  sende  to  Sam  heape  het  hi  gebugan  112 

to  his  deofolgyldum  .  j^e  Ises  pe  hi  for-demede  wurdon  . 
Ac  lulianus  ne  rohte  jjses  reSan  Jsywrace  . 
ne  nan  his  geferena  forht  nses  on  mode  . 

ac  wseron  lust-bsere  for  J3one  leofan  drihten  116 

wita  to  ]?rowienne  .  and  eac  waelhreowne  deaS. 
pa  ge-cyrde  se  serendraca  .  and  J^is  ssede  ]?am  deman  . 
Martianus  ]?a  het  ]3oae  halgan  lulianum 

him  to  ge-langian  to  langsumum  wytum  .  120 

and  het  siSSan  for-bernan  ealle  his  gebroSra  . 
samod  binnan  '  j^am  ylcan  huse  .  pe  hi  heora  beda  be-eoden . 
pa  wearS  se  halga  heap  ]5am  hselende  ge-ofFrod  . 
and  ]?urh  pcet  hate  fyr  to  heofonan  rice  becom .  124 

On  Sere  stowe  beoS  gehselede  .  gehwilce  untrume  . 

*  Leaf  26. 


IV.    PASSION    OP   ST.  JULIAN    AND    HIS   WIFE   BASILISSA.       97 

and  He  sent  them  this  comfort,  thus  saying  : 
'  Ho  !  thou  Basilissa,  thy  prayers  are  fulfilled, 
that  all  thy  maidens  shall  depart  from  the  world, 
before  the  cruel  persecution  shall  come  upon  you, 
that  ye  be  not  polluted  by  the  mad  persecutors,' 
It  was  soon  fulfilled,  even  as  Grod  foretold  to  them, 
that  all  the  women  that  followed  Basilissa 
departed  from  this  world  to  the  glorious  Saviour, 
and  Basilissa  afterward,  truly  invited, 
departed  in  virginity  from  the  world  to  Christ, 
and  Julian,  with  joy,  with  his  monks  buried  her, 
and  himself  continued  in  life  with  his  dear  brethren, 
eagerly  persuading  them  to  the  future  conflict. 
Then  came  Martianus  the  wicked  tormentor 
into  Antioch,  the  Egyptian  city, 

with  immeasurable  cruelty,  from  the  impious  Empei'or. 
He  made  a  decree,  that  no  man  might  buy 
or  sell  anything,  unless  he  offered  sacrifice 
to  the  false  idols  and  forsook  his  Lord. 
Then  was  (all)  told  him  about  the  true  belief 
that  Julianus  held,  together  with  his  holy  brethren; 
and  he  sent  to  that  company,  and  bade  them  bow  down 
to  his  idols,  unless  they  were  to  be  judged  guilty. 
But  Julianus  recked  not  of  the  savage  threat, 
nor  was  one  of  his  companions  afraid  in  his  mind, 
but  (all)  were  xJesirous,  for  their  dear  Lord, 
to  suffer  torments,  and  even  cruel  death. 
Then  returned  the  messenger,  and  told  this  to  the  judge. 
Martianus  then  bade  the  holy  Julianus 
to  be  sent  for  to  himself,  for  lingering  tortures, 
and  then  commanded  all  his  brethren  to  be  burnt  together 
within  the  very  house  wherein  they  offered  their  prayers. 
Then  was  the  holy  company  offered  up  to  the  Saviour, 
and  went  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven  through  the  hot  fire. 
On  that  spot  are  healed  any  sick  people  (that  come) 

7 


98      IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET   SPONSE   EIUS   BASILISSE. 

]3urh  J5sera  martyra  ge-earnunga  .  pe  on  Jjsere  stowe  tSrowodon  . 
Hwset  tSa  martianus  se  manfuUa  cwellere  . 

hsefde  langsum  gewinn  .  witS  |?one  se?5elan  lulianum  .  1 28 

and  cwseS  Ipcet  he  geare  wiste  his  seSelborennysse  . 
and  ic  Ipe  for-^i  tihte  .  pcet  'Su  jjam  godum  ge-ofFrige  . 
sefter  Jjinre  gebyrde  .  pcet  hi  pe  bly'Se  beon  . 
lulianus  him  ssede  .  ]3U  eart  so'Slice  ablend  132 

mid  Jjinre  yfelnysse  .  and  for-j^i  me  }7us  olsecst  . 
Ge  habbatS  manega  godas  .  and  manega  gydena  . 
we  sotSlice  wur?5ian  senne  sotSne  god  . 

Eower  godas  synd  agotene  .  o^Se  agrafene  .  136 

hu  magon  hi  beon  ge-gladode  .  J?urh  senige  bigencgas  .  , 

o)?]7e  ]?am  gemyltsian  .  pe  hi  mid  ge-dwylde  wurtSiaS  . 
peos  race  is  swiSe  lang-sum  fullice  to  gereccenne  . 
ac  we  hit  sgecga^  eow  on  pa  scortostan  wisan  .  140 

Hwset  ]5a  martianus  .  het  his  manfullan  cwelleras  . 
Jjone  halgan  beatan  mid  hearduw  saglum  . 
pa  bserst  sum  «agol  into  anes  beateres  eagan  . 
swa  pcet  his  cage  wand  tit  mid  }?am  slaege, 

Se  man  waes  j^am  deman  ]?earle  nyd-behefe  .  144 

and  cuS  J?am  casere  .  and  him  eallum  ge-cweme  . 
Da  cw8e?5  martianws  mid  mycclum  graman  . 
Bwa  micel  is  |?in  dry-crseft  .  pcet  (5u  ]?as  dyntas  naht  ne  gefretst  . 
and  }5aerto  eacan  ablendst  .  J)one  pe  pe  beaton  [sic)  sceolde  .  148 
lulianus  ]?a  cwaetS  .  to  ]?am  wel-hreowan  }3us  . 
ClypiatS  to  eowru»i  godum  .  and  to  eallum  gydenuw  . 
pcet  hi  nu  gehgelan  .  j^ises  hsetSenan  eage  . 

and  gif  hi  ne  magon  .  ic  hine  gehsele  ]5urh  crist  .  152 

pa  eoden  pa.  hse'Sen-gyldan  .  Hnto  heora  temple  . 
clypigende  hlude  .  to  'Sam  leasan  gode  . 
Da  andwerdan  J)a  deofla  .  of  |?am  dsedan  anlicnyssum  . 
Gewita'S  fram  us  .  we  synd  wratSe  ge-swsencte  156 

and  mid  fyre  for-numene  ,  for  lulianes  intingan  . 
sefre  fram  Sam  dsege  pe  ge  hine  serest  drsehton  . 
Hu  mage  w6  blinde  Jjone  blindan  ge-hselan  . 
^  Leaf  26,  back. 


IV.    PASSION   OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND   HIS  WIFE  BASILI8SA.      99 

through  the  merits  of  the  martyrs  who  suflFered  in  that  place. 

Well,  then,  Martianus,  the  evil  tormentor, 

had  a  long  contest  with  the  noble  Julianus, 

and  said  that  he  had  formerly  known  his  high  rank, 

'and  I  therefore  exhort  thee,  offer  to  the  gods 

according  to  thy  quality,  that  they  may  be  kind  to  thee.' 

Julianus  said  to  him,  '  Thou  art  verily  blinded 

by  thy  evil  mind,  and  therefore  dost  thus  flatter  me. 

Ye  have  many  gods  and  many  goddesses ; 

we  however  honour  one  true  God  only. 

Your  gods  are  cast  in  a  mould  or  sculptured, 

how  can  they  be  gladdened  by  any  acts  of  worship? 

or  how  shall  they  show  mercy  on  them  that  erroneously  honour 

^themr 
(This  story  is  very  tedious,  to  tell  it  all, 
but  we  tell  it  you  in  the  briefest  way.) 
Well,  then,  Martianus  bad  his  wicked  tormentors 
beat  the  saint  with  hard  rods. 
Then  one  of  the  rods  broke  into  a  beater's  eye, 
eo  that  his  eye  rolled  out,  by  means  of  the  stroke. 
This  man  was  very  necessary  to  the  judge, 
and  well-known  to  the  emperor,  and  well-pleasing  to  them  all. 
Then  said  Martianus  in  great  anger, 

'  So  great  is  thy  sorcery  that  thou  feelest  these  strokes  not  at  all, 
and  moreover  thou  blindest  him  who  is  told  to  beat  thee.' 
Julianus  then  spake  thus  to  the  cruel  one, 
*  Cry  to  your  gods  and  to  all  your  goddesses 
that  they  will  now  heal  this  heathen's  eye ! 
And  if  they  cannot,  I  will  heal  him  through  Christ.' 
Then  went  the  idol-worshippers  into  their  temple, 
crying  aloud  to  the  false  god. 
Then  answered  the  devils,  out  of  the  dead  images, 
'Depart  from  us,  we  are  fiercely  tormented 
and  consumed  with  fire,  for  Julian's  sake, 
ever  since  the  day  that  ye  first  vexed  him. 
How  can  we  blind  ones  heal  the  blind  1' 

7-2 


100      IV.    PASSIO    SANCTI    IVLIANI    ET   SPONSE   EIUS    BASILISSE. 

pa  cwge'S  lulianus  Ipe  pcet  eal  wyste  .  i6o 

to  martiane  .  mid  micelre  blisse. 
Gang  into  J^inum  godum  pe  hi  clypiatS  to  him  . 
pa  eode  se  ehtere  into  (Sani  temple  . 

and  ge-seah  ]?a  anlicnyssa  ealle  to-cwysede  164 

gyldena  and  sylfrena  .  and  sume  of  smyltinga  . 
Sume  of  cristallan  to-brytte  mid  ealle  . 
pa  seede  martianus  pcet  t5a  sotSfaestan  godes 

mid  ge]?ylde  for-baeron  .  J)one  bysmorfullan  teonan  .  168 

Ipcet  hi  swa  lulianum  to  him  ge-bigan  mihton  . 
He  bsed  swa  ]?eah  lulianum  .  pcet  he  his  ge-beot  gelgeste  . 
and  ]?8es  cnihtes  eage  J?urh  his  crist  ge-hselde  . 
pa  msercode  lulianus  pees  mannes  eage  .  172 

mid  cristes  rode-tacne  .  and  se  cniht  wear(5  ge-hseled  .      ^ 
Bwylce  his  eage  nsere  neefre  ser  gederod  . 
Da  clypode  se  cniht  .  and  cwse'S  to  martiane  . 
Se  god  is  to  gelyfanne  .  Ipe  (5a  cristenan  ongelyfatS  .  176 

and  l^ine  godas  synd  soSlice  deoflu  . 
Martianus  Ipa  het  hine  be-heafdian  , 
for(5an  pe  he  gelyfde  .  on  J)  one  lyfigendan  god  . 
pe  his  eage  onlihte  .  and  eac  his  heortan  .  180 

He  het  eac  geswencean  mid  swarum  witum  . 
Jjone  halgan  lulianum  .  and  het  hine  Isedan 
geond  ealle  J^a  burh  gebundene  mid  racen-teagum  . 
Martianus  hgefde  his  sunu  ser  befaest  .  184 

to  woruld-licre  lare  .  and  to  uSwitegunge  , 
on  ]38ere  ylcan  byrig  .  pe  se  gebundene  eode  . 
His  nama  wses  celsus  .  and  se  ge-seah  jjone  halgan  . 
and  hu  godes  ^aenglas  him  mid  flugon  .  188 

awearp  j?a  his  Ur-boc  .  and  mid  geleafan  arn 
to  ]5am  halgan  were  .  and  his  f6t  gesohte  . 
cwseS  pcet  he  witSsoce  p&m  sceand-licum  godum  . 
and  crist  andette  mid  ealre  heortan  .  192 

Ne  mihte  hine  nan  man  of  ]3am  geleafan  gebringan  . 
jje  fram  luliane  .  J>urh  senig  j^ing  ateon  . 

^  Leaf  27. 


IV,    PASSION    OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND   HIS   WIFE   BASILISSA.       101 

Then  said  Julianus,  who  knew  all  that, 

to  Martianus,  with  great  joy, 

*  Go  in  unto  thy  gods,  they  call  thee  to  themselves  1  * 

Then  went  the  persecutor  into  the  temple, 

and  saw  the  images  all  broken  in  pieces, 

both  of  gold  and  of  silver,  and  some  of  amber, 

and  some  of  crystal,  wholly  shattered. 

Then  said  Martianus  that  the  true  gods 

patiently  endured  that  shameful  injury, 

that  so  they  might  incline  Julianus  to  them. 

Nevertheless  he  prayed  Julianus  to  fulfil  his  boast, 

and  to  heal  the  servant's  eye  through  his  Christ. 

Then  Julianus  marked  the  man's  eye 

with  the  sign  of  Christ's  cross,  and  the  servant  was  healed, 

just  as  if  his  eye  had  never  been  hurt. 

Then  cried  the  servant,  and  said  to  Martianus, 

'  That  God  is  to  be  believed  in,  on  whom  the  Christians  believe, 

and  thy  gods  are  verily  devils.' 

Then  Martianus  ordered  him  to  be  beheaded, 

because  he  believed  on  the  living  God 

who  enlightened  his  eye  and  his  heart  also. 

He  also  bad  men  torture  with  severe  torments 

the  holy  Julianus,  and  bad  them  lead  him 

tlirough  all  the  city  bound  with  fetters. 

Martianus  had,  ere  this,  committed  his  son 

to  worldly  instruction  and  philosophy 

in  the  very  town  through  which  the  prisoner  went. 

His  name  was  Celsus,  and  he  saw  the  saint, 

and  how  God's  angels  flew  along  beside  him. 

Then  he  threw  away  his  book  of  instruction,  and  with  (full) 

belief  ran 
to  the  holy  man,  and  sought  his  feet, 
and  said  that  he  forsook  the  base  gods, 
and  acknowledged  Christ  with  all  his  heart. 
No  man  could  turn  him  aside  from  the  faith, 
nor  by  any  means  withdraw  him  from  Julianus. 


10.2      IV.    PASSIO    SANCTI   IVLIANI    ET   SPONSE   EIUS    BASILISSE. 

pa  weerS  martianus  and  eac  seo  modor 

dreorige  on  mode  .  and  heora  men  ealle  .  196 

and  martianus  beMn  ]?oue  mseran  lulianum  , 

liwi  woldest  J)U  amyrran  min .  ancennedan  sunu  , 

pvLvh  ])iniie  dry-crseft  .  and  to  j^inum  cristc  geweman  . 

Bebeald  ure  sarnysse  .  and  urne  sunu  forlset  .  200 

and  ic  tSe  ge]?ingie  to  urum  kasere  . 

Celsus  se  sunu  ssede  J^am  swicolau  faeder  Jjus  . 

Ic  witSsace  J)e  faeder  for  j^inum  gedwylde  . 

and  ic  gelyfa  on  crist  pQ  me  gecoren  h^fS  .  204 

witna  gif  p\x  wylle  .  mid   wsel-hreowum  tintregum 

Jjinne  agenre  (sic)  sunu  .  for  }?inra  goda  bigencge  . 

Gif  pn  nelle  me  of-slean  .  asend  me  to  j^am  casere  . 

Ipcet  ic  IpadY  deaS  Jsrowige  for  minum  drihtne  criste  .  208 

pa  halgan  wurdon  gebrobte  on  blindum  cwearterne  sySSan 

be  martianes  hsese  |?8er  manna  lie  lagon  . 

pe  wseran  aer  acwealde  on  Sam  cwearterne  gefyrn  . 

j?a  weollon  eall  maSon  .  and  egeslice  stuncon  .  212 

pa  fore-sceawode  godes  gifu  .  pcet  Jjser  scean  mycel  leoht  . 

and  se  stenc  wear's  awend  .  to  wynsumum  brseSe  . 

and  eall  se  unwynsuranyss  him  wear'S  to  blysse  . 

pa  cwsedon  pa  cempan  pe  se  cwellere  gesette  .  216 

j?am  halgum  to  weard-mannum  .  Jjsera  wseron  twentig  . 

Unrihtlic  us  bi'S  .  pcet  we  seft  gecyrron  . 

fram  pyBum  beorhtan  leohte  .  to  blindum  j^ystrum  . 

fram  life  to  deatSe  .  fram  so(5e  to  leasunga  .  220 

Hi  feollon  J^a  ealle  to  lulianes  fotum  . 

mid  ge-leafan  herigende  J?3es  hselendes  naman  . 

lulianus  J?a  bsed  mid  ^  onbryrdnysse  his  drihten  . 

pcet  he  fore-sceawode  hu  hi  ge-fullode  wurdon  .  224 

J)ser  wseron  binnan  Jjsere  byrig  .  seofan  gebroSra  cristena  . 

)38es  caseres  cynnes  .  and  heora  feeder  waes  cristen  . 

}?am  alyfde  se  casere  heora  cristen-dom  to  healdenne  . 

butan  selcere  eht-nysse  .  for  'Sam  arwurSan  cynne  .  228 

Hi  hsefdon  senne  msesse-preost  swiSe  mseres  lifes  . 
*  Leaf  2  7,  back. 


IV.   PASSION    OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND   HIS   WIFE   BASILIS8A.       103 

Then  was  Martianus,  and  also  Celsus'  mother 

sorrowful  in  mind,  and  all  their  men ; 

and  Martianus  asked  the  illustrious  Julianus, 

'Why  wouldst  thou  destroy  my  only  son 

by  thy  sorcery,  and  seduce  him  to  thy  Christ  ? 

Behold  our  sorrow,  and  let  our  son  go, 

and  I  will  intercede  for  thee  to  our  emperor.' 

Celsus,  the  son,  said  thus  to  the  treacherous  father, 

'  I  renounce  thee,  father,  for  thy  error, 

and  I  believe  on  Christ  who  hath  chosen  me. 

Torture,  if  thou  wilt,  with  cruel  torments 

thine  own  son,  for  the  worship  of  thy  gods. 

If  thou  wilt  not  slay  me,  send  me  to  the  emperor, 

that  I  may  there  suffer  death  for  my  Lord  Christ.' 

The  saints  were  then  cast  into  a  blind  prison, 

by  Martianus'  command,  where  men's  bodies  lay, 

that  were  long  ere  this  killed  in  the  prison, 

which  swarmed  all  with  worms,  and  stank  horribly. 

Then  God's  grace  provided  that  there  shone  a  great  light, 

and  the  stench  was  turned  into  a  pleasant  fragrance, 

and  all  the  unpleasantness  turned,  for  them,  into  happiness. 

Then  said  the  soldiers  whom  the  tormentor  set 

as  guards  over  the  saints,  of  whom  there  were  twenty, 

*It  will  be  wrong  for  us,  if  we  again  should  turn 

from  this  bright  light  to  blind  darkness, 

from  life  to  death,  from  truth  to  falsehood.' 

Then  fell  they  all  at  Julianus'  feet, 

praising  with  faith  the  name  of  Jesus. 

Julianus  then  prayed  fervently  to  his  Lord, 

that  he  would  provide  for  their  being  baptized. 

There  were  within  the  city  seven  Christian  brothers, 

of  the  emperor's  kindred,  and  their  father  was  a  Christian, 

whom  the  emperor  had  permitted  to  keep  their  Christianity 

without  any  persecution,  for  their  noble  birth. 

They  had  one  mass-priest  of  very  illustrious  life. 


104      IV,    PASSIO    SANCTI    IVLIANI    ET    SPONSE   EIUS   BASILISSE. 

antonius  gehaten  .  pe  him  nisessau  gesang  . 
pas  geneosode  se  hselend  .  and  h6t  hi  gan  to  |3am  cwearterne  . 
mid  heora  mgesse-preoste  .  Ipcet  J^a  men  wurdon  gefuUode  .      232 
Hi  eoden  pa.  on  niht  .  and  godes  sengel  hi  laedde  . 
and  poet  cweartern  geopenade  .  mid  his  handa  hrepunge  . 
pa  ssedon  ]?a  gebrocSra  .  pcet  se  hgelend  hi  asende  . 
mid  heora  msesse-preostse  .  pa.  men  to  fullienne  .  236 

lulianus  J?a  sona  Jjses  ]?ancode  gode  . 
and  wearcS  J)a  ge-fullod  se  fore-sseda  cnapa  . 
and  his  feeder  cempan  .  on  cristes  naman  endemes  . 
pis  wseartS  Jia  ge-cyd  .  j^am  cwellere  martiane  .  340 

pcet  J?a  seofan  gebrotSra  .  butan  selcere  ehtnysse  . 
woldan  for  cristes  naman  on  })am  cwearterne  ]?rowian  , 
pa  het  se  cwellere  hi  .  of  J^am  cwearterne  gelsedan  . 
and  axode  hwi  hi  woldan  butan  ehtnysse  ]?rowian  .  244 

pa  cwaetS  se  yldesta  broSor  .  to  J^am  arleasan  deman  . 
Andssete  bitS  pcet  treow  .  pe  sefre  grewS  .  on  leafum  . 
and  nsefre  nseime  wsestm  .  his  scyppende  .  ne  bringtS . 
swa  synd  we  cristene  .  gif  ure  cristen-dom  .  ne  bicS  acunnod  .  248 
pa  het  se  cwellere  hi  to  J?am  cwearterne  geliedan  . 
and  sende  his  gewrit  to  J)am  wselhreowan  casere  . 
Gehelp  urum  godum  .  and  hdt  to  pe  gefeccan  . 
Jjisne  dry  .  lulianum  .  pe  ure  goda  anlicnysse  .  252 

mid  ealle  to-brytte  .  and  minne  sunu  gebygde  . 
fram  me  to  his  criste  .  and  ]?a  seofan  cnihtas  . 
pe  be  ]?inre  leafa  lyfedan  buton  ehtnysse 

on  Jjyssere  byrig  for  hyra  mycclum^  gebyrde  .  256 

pa,  asende  se  casere  ]?isne  cwide  ongean  . 
gif  lulianus  jjurh-wunacS  mid  his  geferum  on  |5ysura  . 
nim  fela  tunnan  and  do  hi  |38er  on  innan  . 

on-sel  hi  sicStSan  ealle  otSrum  mannum  to  bysne  .  260 

And  gif  he  Jjurh  his  dry-crseft  pcet  fyr  adwescan  mseg  . 
gewitna  hi  ealle  loca  hu  fiu  wylle  . 
pa  het  martianus  pa.  godes  menn  gefeccan  , 

and  axode  lulianum  hwetSer  hi  aht  smeadon  ,  264 

»  Leaf  28. 


IV.   PASSION   OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND    HIS   WIPE   BASILISSA.      105 

named  Antoaius,  who  sang  masses  for  them. 

These  men  Jesus  visited,  and  bade  them  go  to  the  prison 

together  with  their  mass-priest,  that  the  men- might  be  baptized. 

They  went  then  by  night,  and  God's  angel  led  them, 

and  opened  the  prison  with  the  touch  of  his  hands. 

Then  said  the  brethren,  that  Jesus  sent  them 

with  their  mass-priest,  to  baptize  the  men. 

Julianus  immediately  thanked  God  for  it, 

and  the  aforesaid  young  man  was  then  baptized, 

and  his  father's  soldiers  in  Christ's  name  likewise. 

This  was  then  made  known  to  the  tormentor  Martianus, 

that  the  seven  brethren,  without  any  persecution, 

were  willing  for  Christ's  name  to  suffer  in  the  prison. 

Then  the  tormentor  bade  them  be  led  from  the  prison, 

and  asked  why  they  wished,  without  persecution,  to  suffer. 

Then  said  the  eldest  brother  to  the  impious  judge, 

'  Hateful  is  the  tree  that  is  always  sprouting  into  leaf 

and  never  bears  any  fruit  for  its  Creator; 

so  are  we  Christians,  if  our  Christianity  be  not  known.' 

Then  bade  the  persecutor  to  lead  them  to  prison, 

and  sent  his  letter  to  the  cruel  emperor, 

'Help  our  gods,  and  command  men  to  bring  thee 

this  sorcerer  Julianus,  who  hath  utterly  broken 

the  images  of  our  gods,  and  hath  perverted  my  sou 

from  me  to  his  Christ,  and  the  seven  knights  also 

who  by  thy  permission  lived  free  from  persecution 

in  this  city,  on  account  of  their  high  rank.' 

Then  sent  the  emperor  this  reply  in  return; 

*  If  Julianus  continues  in  this  mind,  together  with  his  fellows^ 

take  so  many  tuns,  and  place  them  therein, 

burn  them  all  afterwards,  for  an  example  to  others. 

And  if  by  his  witchcraft  he  can  quench  the  fire, 

torment  them  all,  behold,  how  thou  wilt.' 

Then  Martianus  bade  them  fetch  the  men  of  God, 

and  asked  Julianus  whether  they  had  thought  of  anything 


106      IV.    PASSIO    SANCTI    IVLIANI    ET    SPONSE  EIUS    BASILISSE. 

ymbe  hyre  agene  Jsearfe  .  on  ]?8ere  hwile  oSj^set  . 
lulianttg  ssede  .  ure  gej^anc  is  .  swa  swa  hit  wses  . 
gif  Jju  senig  wite  beJ)ohtest  .  we  synd  gearwe  to  |?am  . 
pa  mid  Jjyssere  sprgece  .  bseron  menn  on  tSsere  straet  268 

anes  hsetSenes  mannes  lie  .  and  se  heard-heorta  dema  . 
het  beran  Ipone  deadan  .  to  his  dom-setle  . 
cwse'S  pa  to  luliane  .  Eower  crist  argerde  . 

J?a  deadan  to  life  .  laet  nu  geswutelian  .  272 

gif  he  sots  god  sy  .  and  ge  J^isne  arseran  . 
pa  and-wyrde  iulianus  .  j^am  arleasan  deman  . 
Hwaet  frematS  J)am  blindan  seo  beorhta  sun-beam  . 
Is  swa  peeih.  tima  pcet  godes  miht  beo  geswutelod  .  276 

Iulianus  (5a  hof  to  heofonum  his  eagan  . 
biddende  his  drihten  .  pcet  he  J^one  deadan  arserde  . 
pa  sefter  anre  tida  .  ards  se  deade  . 

and  clypode  ofer  eall  .  Eala  hu  andfsencge  gebed  .  280 

and  hu  clsene  msegtS-hdd  .  is  on  Jjisum  mseran  iuliane  . 
Eala  hwider  ic  wees  gelsed  .  and  hwanon  ic  eom  nu  gebroht  . 
pa  het  martianus  mid  his  hosp-worduwi  . 

|3set  he  ful  ssede  his  si(5  hitn  eallum  .  284 

pa  cwse]?  se  geeadcucoda  .  me  coman  to  sil-hearwan  . 
atelices  hiwes  swa  heage  swa  entes  . 
mid  byrnenduwi  eagum  .  and  egeslicum  toSum  . 
Heora  earmes  wseron  swylce  ormaete  beames  .  288 

heora  clawa  scearpe  .  and  hi  sylfa  un-mild-heorta  . 
pas  Jjyllice  me  tugon  to  J^sere  sweartan  helle  . 
Da  mid  ]?am  pe  iulianus  his  drihten  gebsed  . 
pcet  he  me  eft  arserde  .   J?a  unrotsodon  helware  292 

^and  of  godes  |jrym-setle  .  wearS  Jsus  geclypod  . 
Beo  se  man  ongean  gelsed  .  for  minum  leofan  iuliane  . 
nelle  ic  hine  ge-unrotian  on  eenigum  ]?incge  . 
pa  coman  twegen  euglas  .  and  me  of  Sam  deoflum  genamon  . 
and  me  gebrohtan  to  life  .  pcet  ic  nu  on  god  gelyfe  .  297 

sefter  minum  deatSe  .  )?one  pe  ic  cer  wit5s6c  . 
pa  weart5  martianus  mycclum  gedrefed  . 
^  Leaf  28,  back. 


IV,    PASSION   OF    ST.  JULIAN    AND    HIS    WIFE   BASILISSA.       107 

for  their  own  profit  meanwhile,  up  to  the  present  time. 

Julianus  said,  '  our  opinion  is  just  as  it  was  ; 

if  thou  hast  thought  of  any  torment,  we  are  ready  for  it. 

Then,  with  that  word,  men  carried  along  the  street 

a  heathen  man's  body,  and  the  hard-hearted  judge 

bade  them  bear  the  dead  man  to  his  judgment-seat. 

He  said  then  to  Julian,  'Your  Christ  raised  up 

the  dead  to  life,  let  it  now  be  proved 

if  He  be  true  God,  and  do  thou  raise  up  this  man.' 

Then  answered  Julianus  to  the  impious  judge, 

*  What  profiteth  the  bright  sun-beam  to  the  blind  man  1 
It  is,  however,  time  that  God's  might  be  made  manifest.' 
Then  Julianus  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 

praying  his  Lord  that  He  would  raise  the  dead. 

Then,  after  a  time,  the  dead  man  arose, 

and  cried  aloud — '  Lo,  how  acceptable  is  the  prayer, 

and  what  pure  virginity  is  in  this  noble  Julianus  ! 

Behold,  whither  I  was  led  and  whence  I  am  now  brought !' 

Then  Martianus  commanded,  with  contemptuous  words, 

that  he  would  fully  declare  his  journey  to  them  all. 

Then  said  the  revived  man — '  There  came  to  me  Ethiopians 

of  terrible  appearance,  as  tall  as  giants 

with  burning  eyes  and  horrible  teeth. 

Their  arms  were  like  immense  beams, 

their  claws  sharp,  and  themselves  merciless. 

These,  such  as  they  were,  were  drawing  me  to  the  dark  hell. 

Then,  even  as  Julianus  was  praying  to  his  Lord 

that  he  would  raise  me  up  again,  the  hosts  of  hell  were  grieved, 

and  from  God's  throne  were  thus  addressed : 

*  Let  the  man  be  led  back,  for  my  dear  Julian's  sake, 
I  will  not  cause  him  a  displeasure  on  any  account.' 
Then  came  two  angels,  and  took  me  from  the  devils, 
and  brought  me  to  life,  so  that  I  now  believe  in  God, 
after  my  death,  whom  I  formerly  renounced.' 

Then  was  Martianus  greatly  troubled. 


108      IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET  SPONSE  EltJS  BASILISSfi. 

and  het  hi  ealle  gebringan  binnan  Jsam  cwearteme  eft  .  300 

and  het  gearcian  t5a  tunnan  to  heora  beernette  . 

swa  swa  se  kasere  h6t  .  J)urh  his  serend-gewrit  . 

pa  wearcS  se  edcucode  man  be-twux  |5ysum  gefvUod  . 

binnan  Jjam  cwearteme  .  and  gebdd  mid  J?am  cristenum  .        304 

oS  pcet  martianus  hi  to  J^am  martyrdome  gefette  . 

Hi  wurdon  Tpa,  gebrohte  gebundene  on  racen-teagum 

ealle  to  Jjam  tunnum  and  to  J^sere  ontendnysse  . 

pa  cwse'S  martianus  mid  mycelre  angsumnysse  308 

to  Jjam  halgum  werum  .  and  to  his  agenum  suna  . 

Eala  hwilc  anwilnys  and  ge-ortruwad  wylla  . 

]?urh  Sa  ]5eos  fsegre  geogatJ  .  nu  forwurtSan  sceall  . 

Eala  ]?u  iuliane  .  J^e  awendest  minne  sunu  .  312 

swa  pcet  hd  min  ne  rsec'S  ne  eac  J)gere  meder  - 

pa  com  seo  modor  mid  mycelre  sarnysse  . 

and  ealle  hyre  hyred-men  to  psere  heofunga  . 

and  manega  otSre  menn  to  J^sere  mycclan  wsefer-syne  316 

pa  cwsetS  Jjses  deman  sunu  .  to  his  dreorigan  fgeder  . 

Ne  Jjurfe  ge  us  bemsenan  .  ne  urne  sij?  bewepan  . 

bewepajj  eow  sylfe  .  we  sitSia)?  to  heofonum  . 

we  faraS  tSurh  pcet  fyr  unforhte  )?urh  god  .  320 

and  we  ansunde  becumaS  .  eft  to  eowrum  gesih]?um  . 

ponne  pu.  me  eft  gesihst  gesundne  of  j^am  fyre  . 

Ge]3afa  pcet  min  modor  me  gesprsecan  . 

and  sume  J^reo  niht  on  minum  raede  beon  .  324 

ic  wene  pcet  pn  ne  forleosa  na?5or  ne  hi  ne  me  . 

pa  wear's  seo  modor  on  mode  geblissod  . 

and  se  feeder  cwaeS  .  ^Ipcet  he  J^ses  enapan  willan 

wolde  gefremman  .  gif  he  of  J^am  fyre  come  .  328 

pa  h6t  se  dema  his  gingran  ]7is  don  . 

and  eode  mid  his  wife  .  aweg  to  his  huse  . 

for  jjan  Jje  h6  ne  mihte  geseon  hu  his  sunu  forburne  . 

pa  h6t  se  under-gerefa  hi  ealle  ge-bringan  332 

into  tSam  tunnum  .  and  ontendan  hi  mid  acuman  . 

^  Leaf  29, 


IV.   PASSION   OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND    HIS   WIFE   BASILISSA.      109 

and  bade  them  all  to  be  taken  back  to  the  prison, 
and  bade  men  prepare  the  tuns  for  their  burning, 
even  as  the  emperor  bade  by  means  of  his  letter. 
Then  was  the  revived  man  baptized  amongst  them, 
within  the  prison,  and  abode  with  the  Christians 
until  Martianiis  fetched  them  out  to  martyrdom. 
They  were  then  brought,  bound  in  fetters, 
all  to  the  tuns,  and  to  the  conflagration. 
Then  said  Martianus  with  great  anguish 
to  the  holy  men  and  to  his  own  son, 
'Behold,  what  obstinacy  and  desperate  self-will  is  yours, 
whereby  this  fair  youth  must  now  perish  ! 
Behold,  thou  Julianus  !    thou  pervertest  my  son 
so  that  he  accounts  not  of  me,  nor  even  of  his  mother ! ' 
Then  came  the  mother  with  great  sorrow, 
and  all  those  of  her  household  to  that  lamentation, 
and  many  other  men  to  the  great  spectacle. 
Then  quoth  the  judge's  son  to  his  mournful  father, 
*  Thou  needest  not  bemoan  us,  nor  weep  at  our  departure ; 
weep  for  yourselves ;   we  journey  to  heaven. 
We  go  through  the  fire  intrepidly,  by  God's  help, 
and  we  shall  appear  again,  unharmed,  to  your  sight. 
When  thou  shalt  see  me  again,  unharmed,  out  of  the  fire, 
grant  that  my  mother  may  speak  to  me, 
and  that  she  for  about  three  nights  may  discourse  with  mo ; 
I  ween  that  thou  wilt  lose  neither  her  nor  me.' 
Then  was  the  mother  joyful  in  mind, 
and  the  father  said  that  he  would  perform 
the  young  man's  will,  if  he  came  out  of  the  fire. 
Then  the  judge  commanded  his  ofiicer  to  do  this^, 
and  went  with  his  wife  away  to  his  house, 
in  order  that  he  might  not  see  how  his  son  was  bui'nt. 
Then  the  under-reeve  commanded  them  all  to  be  brought 
(and  placed)  in  the  tuns,  and   to  set  them  on   fire   with   oakum 
(tow), 
1  Obscure.     It  seems  to  mean  that  he  commanded  the  tuns  to  be  set  on  fire. 


110      IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET   SPONSE   EIUS  BASILISSE. 

and  mid  wuda  belecgan  .  swa  \)cet  se  llg  astah 

m&  ]3one  Sryttig  fseSma  .  on  pees  folces  gesilij^e  . 

o'^pcet  ]>cet  ad  wses  for-burnen  .  and  ealle  pa,  tunnan  .  336 

Da  stodan  pa  halgan  .  hale  of  Jjam  fyre 

glitiniende  swa  swa  gold  .  pus  herigende  god  . 

Transiuimws   per   ignem    et    aquaw   .   et   eduxisti   nos   in   refri- 

gerium  . 
We    ferdon    ]purh    fyr    and    wfeter    .    and    ]?u    us    Iseddest    on 

celincge  .  34° 

pis  ge-axode  se  dema  .  and  J>yder  efste  mid  his  wife  . 
and  sefter  langsumre  sprsece  .  let  ]?a  modor  to  J^am  suna  . 
on  synderlicre  clysincge  .  pcet  heo  J?one  sunu  gebigde  . 
pa  gebsedon  pa  halgan  .  binnan  ]pam  cwearterne  .  344 

for  pcet  hseSene  wif  .  pcei  se  hgelend  hire  gemiltsode  . 
Da  wear's  ]?8er  eortJ-styrung  .  and  eall  seo  stow  byfode  . 
and  padr  scean  mycel  leoht  .  and  msere  braecS  j^aer  stanc  . 
swa  pcBt  pcet  wif  wundrode  .  ]?ses  wynsuman  brsej^es  .  348 

and  cwae'S  pcet  heo  nsefre  ser  naht  swilces  ne  gestunce  . 
pa  gelyfde  heo  sona  on  )3one  lifigendan  god  . 
and  wear's  gefullod  set  J^am  fore-ssedan  preoste  . 
and  fullice  ge-cyrred  .  to  'Sam  soSan  geleafan  .  352 

pa  ge-axode  se  dema  ]3is  j?us  gedon  . 
and  het  hi  ealle  gelsedan  .  to  his  laSan  andweardnysse  . 
and  cwseS  to  his  suna  celse  mid  graman  . 

Bsede  Jju  forjji  ]?inre  modor  sprsece  .  356 

poet  pn  hi  gebigdest  to  )?inum  bigenge  fram  me  . 
Se  cnapa  J^ancode  gode  .  pe  hi  swa  gebigde 
to  his  so'San  geleafan  .  pcet  heo  ne  losode  mid  him  . 
pa  h6t  martianus  pcet  man  hi  gelsehte  .  360 

ac  hi  ^wurdon  ablencle  pe  pcet  bebod  begunnon  , 
Mfter  J?isum  h6t  se  heard-heorta  dema  . 
beheafdian  pa  cempan  .  pe  on  crist  gelyfdan  . 
and  ]5a  seofon  gebro^ra  .  he  h6t  ealle  forbernan  .  364 

and  heold  gyt  pa  feower  mid  ]?am  fore-ssedan  wife  . 
wolde  hi  gelaedan  to  his  leofestan  godum 
'  Leaf  29,  back. 


IV.   PASSION   OF   ST.  JULIAN   AND   HIS   WIFE   BASILISSA.      Ill 

and  surround  them  with  wood,  so  that  the  flame  ascended 

more  than  thirty  fathoms,  in  the  people's  sight, 

until  the  pile  was  burnt  up,  and  all  the  tuns. 

Then  the  saints  stood  there  uninjured  by  the  fire, 

glittering  like  gold,  and  thus  praising  God: 

'  Transivimus  jyer  ignem  et  aquam,  et  eduxisti  nos  in  refrigerium : 

"We  have  passed  through  fire  and  water,  and  thou  hast  led  us 

into  a  cool  place.' 
This  the  judge  heard  of,  and  hastened  thither  with  his  wife, 
and  after  a  long  discourse  let  the  mother  go  to  her  son, 
into  a  private  apartment,  that  she  might  persuade  her  son. 
Then  the  saints  prayed,  within  the  prison, 
for  the  heathen  woman,  that  Jesus  would  pity  her. 
Then  was  there  an  earthquake,  and  all  the  place  trembled, 
and   there   shone  a  great  light,  and  a  great  odour  was  diffused 

there, 
so  that  the  woman  wondered  at  the  winsome  fragrance, 
and  said  that  she  never  before  smelt  anything  like  it. 
Then  soon  believed  she  on  the  living  God, 
and  was  baptized  by  the  aforesaid  priest, 
and  was  fully  converted  to  the  true  faith. 
Then  the  judge  ascertained  that  this  was  so  accomplished, 
and  commanded  them  all  to  be  led  to  his  hateful  presence, 
and  angrily  said  to  his  son  Celsus, 
'  Thou  didst  ask  for  a  conversation  with  thy  mother, 
that  thou  mightest  convert  her  from  me  to  thy  worship.' 
The  young  man  thanked  God,  who  so  inclined  her 
to    his   true   faith,    that    she    might   not   perish  with    him    (i.  e. 

the  judge). 
Then  Martianus  bade  that  men  should  seize  her, 
but  they  that  began  (to  fulfil)  his  command  were  blinded. 
After  this  the  hard-hearted  judge  commanded 
to  behead  the  soldiers  who  believed  on  Christ, 
and  the  seven  brethren  he  commanded  to  be  all  burnt ; 
and  still  kept  the  four,  with  the  aforesaid  woman, 
and  wished  to  lead  them  to  his  very  dear  gods 


112      IV.    PASSIO    SANCTI   IVLIANI    ET    SPONSE    EIUS    BASILISSE. 

Jje  him  to  lafe  wgeron  .  J)a  Sa  otSre  losoclon  . 
Jjset  hi  huru  J^am  godum  heora  Idc  geofFrodon  .  368 

He  het  pa,  gedseftan  .  pcet  deofles  tempi  . 
and  J>a  halgan  coman  J?ider  on  bendum  . 
and  ealle  pa  hsetSen-gildan  .  j^e  ]?0es  buses  gimdon  . 
coman  to  J^am  temple  .  togeanes  J^am  cristenum  .  372 

pa  bed  luliauMs  gebigedum  cneowum  . 
mid  his  ge-ferum  .  j^one  heofonlican  god  . 
pcet  he  his  mihte  geswutelode  .  mannum  to  geleafan  . 
and  pcet  tempi  to-wurpe  .  mid  his  awyrigedum  goduwi  .  376 

Miter  jjsere  bene  to-bserst  seo  eorSe  . 
and  pcet  tempi  asanc  .  mid  eallum  his  sacerdum  . 
and  fela  ]?8ere  hsecSenra  forferdon  samod  . 

pa  cwsecS  lulianus  .  to  )7am  cwellere  J?us  .  380 

Hwser  is  nu  seo  fsegernys  .  J^ines  gefraetowodan  temples  . 
hwger  synd  ]5a  anlicnyssa  .  pe  Jju  onwuldrodest  . 
Swa  swa  hi  besuncon  on  'Sone  sweartan  grund  . 
swa  sceole  ge  hpecSene  on  belle  grund  besincan  .  384 

J?3er  bi^  sefre  ece  ifr  .  and  undeadlic  wyrra  . 
pe  eowre  lichaman  cywcS  .  and  ge  j^eah  ne  swelta'5  . 
ac  bicS  sefre  se  lichama  ge-edniwod  to  tSam  wituw  . 
pser  ge  biddaS  mildsunga  .  ac  eow  bi]?  forwyrned  .  388 

Git  ]3a  martianws  for  his  manful-nysse  . 
nolde  on  god  gelyfan  .  ac  wearcS  mid  graman  afylled  . 
and  cwsetS  pcet  he  Avolde  wrecan  his  godas  . 
Het  J)a  bewindan  heora  handa  .  and  f6t  .  392 

mid  gesmyredum  flexe  .  and  f;^r  under-betan  . 
pa  barn  pcet  fyr  .  and  Jja  bendas  samod  . 
and  ]38ere  halgena  lichaman  .  belifon  .  unge-derode  . 
pa  wolde  se  man-fulla  hi  mislice  getintregian  .  396 

ac  god  hi  ahredde  .  fram  j^am  re(5um  witum  . 
*  and  sume  eac  ablende  .  of  ]?am  bysmor-fulluw  ]?enum  . 
pa  geseah  se  arleasa  aidlian  his  smeagunge  . 
and  wolde  ]5agyt  cunnian  anes  cynnes  wite  .  400 

]?urh  re]?e  deor  .  ]7a  pa  his  retSnyss  ne  mihte  . 

^  Leaf  30. 


IV.    PASSION    OF   ST.   JULIAN    AND    HIS    WIFE    BASILISSA.       113 

that  were  left  remaining  to  him,  when  the  others  perished, 
that  they  might  at  least  offer  their  sacrifices  to  the  gods. 
He  bade  then  the  devil's  temple  to  be  prepared, 
and  the  saints  to  come  thither  in  bonds, 
and  all  the  idol-worshippers  that  took  care  of  the  house 
to  come  to  the  temple,  to  meet  the  Christians. 
Then  Julianus  prayed,  on  bended  knees, 
with  his  fellows,  to  the  God  of  heaven, 
that  He  would  display  his  might,  to  make  men  believe, 
and  overthrow  the  temple  with  its  accursed  gods. 
After  the  prayer  the  earth  clave  asunder 
and  the  temple  sank  down,  with  all  its  priests, 
and  many  of  the  heathen  perished  with  them. 
Then  spake  Julianus  to  the  tormentor  thus : 
'  Where  is  now  the  fairness  of  thy  adorned  temple, 
where  are  the  images  that  thou  didst  glory  in  ? 
Even  as  they  sunk  into  the  dark  abyss, 
so  shall  ye  heathen  sink  into  the  abyss  of  hell, 
where  shall  ever  be  eternal  fire,  and  the  deathless  worm 
that  shall  chew  your  body,  and  yet  ye  shall  not  die, 
but  ever  shall  your  body  be  renewed  for  the  torture. 
There  shall  ye  pray  for  mercy,  but  it  shall  be  denied  you.' 
Still  Martianus,  on  account  of  his  evil  nature, 
would  not  believe  on  God,  but  was  filled  with  anger, 
and  said  that  he  would  avenge  his  gods. 

Then  he  commanded  men  to  wind  round  their  hands  and  feet 
with  greased  flax,  and  to  kindle  fire  thereunder. 
Then  burnt  the  fire  and  the  bonds  together, 
and  the  bodies  of  the  saints  remained  unharmed. 
Then  desired  the  wicked  one  variously  to  torture  them, 
but  God  delivered  them  from  the  cruel  torments, 
and  even  blinded  some  of  the  blasphemous  servants. 
Then  the  impious  one  saw  his  endeavour  was  frustrated,  , 

and  yet  desired  he  to  try  one  (more)  kind  of  torment, 
by  means  of  wild  animals,  when  his  savageness  could  not 

8 


114      IV.   PASSIO   SANCTI   IVLIANI   ET   SPONSE   EIVS   BASILISSE. 

]3urh  manna  dseda  .  gedon  swa  he  wolde  , 

He  h^t  pa,  gelsedan  leon  .  and  beran 

manega  and  mycele  .  to  J^am  halgttm  martyrum  .  404 

ac  J?a  re(5an  deor  .  ne  dorston  hi  reppan  . 

do  bigdon  heora  heafda  to  'Ssere  halgena  fotum  . 

and  heora  lit5a  liccodon  .  mid  li'Sra  tungan  . 

pa  h^t  martianus  his  manfullan  cwelleras  .  408 

Jsa  halgan  beheafdian  ,  and  hi  J)8es  fsegnodon  . 

]?anciende  gode  .  eahra  his  godnyssa  . 

lulianus  pi  and  se  geonga  cniht 

martianes  sunu  .  and  his  modor  samod.  412 

antonius  se  preost  .  and  se  ge-edcucode  man  . 

wurdon  to-somne  .  of-slagene  for  criste  . 

and  ferdon  mid  wuldre  .  to  Jjam  welwillendan  hselende 

and  to  heora  geferum  pe  him  fore-stopon  .  416 

pcet  is  basiHssa  .  mid  hyre  beorhtum  msedenum  . 

and  se  halga  heap  .  pe  on  tSam  huse  for-barn  . 

and  ]?a  twentig  weard-menn  .  pe  se  waelhreowa  be-heafdode  . 

and  Jja  seofan  gebrotSra  .  pe  he  for-bernan  h6t  .  420 

and  hi  ealle  nu  mid  gode  on  ecnysse  blyssiatS  . 

Hit  gelamp  ]5a  sona  .  swa  hi  ofslagene  waeron  . 

pcet  mycel  liget  com  .  ofer  pa.  manfullan  hgetSenan  . 

and  switSlic  eorcS-styrung  ,  and  egeslic  ]?unor  .  424 

swa  pcet  ]3sera  manfulra  mycel  dsel  .  for-weartS  . 

and  nan  stow  ne  set-stod  .  mid  ]?am  stsenenum  godum  . 

ne  nan  hset5en-gyld  se  hagol  ne  belaefde  . 

pa  fleah  martianws  for  nean  adyd  .  428 

and  he  weartS  fornumen  .  sefter  feawum  dagum  . 

swa  pcet  wurmas  crupon  cuce  of  his  lice  . 

and  se  arleasa  ge-wdt  mid  wite  to  helle  . 

poera  halgan  lie  .  ]?urh  geleaf-fulle  menn  .  433 

wurdon  gebyrigde  sona  mid  blisse  .  binnan  godes  cyrcan  . 

Sy  him  k  wuldor  on  ecere  worulde  .  we  cweJ)a'S»    Amen. 


IV.    PASSION    OP    ST.  JULIAN    AND    HIS    WIFE    BASILISSA.         115 

by  means  of  men  perform  what  he  would. 

He  commanded  then  to  be  brought  lions  and  bears, 

many  and  strong,  to  the  holy  martyrs  ; 

but  the  wild  animals  durst  not  touch  them, 

but  inclined  their  heads  to  the  feet  of  the  saints, 

and  licked  their  limbs  with  their  lithe  tongues. 

Then  commanded  Martianus  his  wicked  tormentors, 

to  behead  the  saints,  and  they  rejoiced  thereat, 

thanking  God  for  all  His  favoxirs. 

Julianus  then,  and  the  young  knight, 

Martianus'  son,  and  his  mother  also, 

Antonius  the  priest,  and  the  resuscitated  man, 

were  all  slain  together  for  Christ's  sake, 

and  went  with  glory  to  the  kind  Saviour, 

and  to  their  companions  who  preceded  them, 

that  is,  Basilissa,  with  her  bright  maidens, 

and  the  holy  company  that  were  burnt  in  the  house, 

and  the  twenty  warders,  whom  the  cruel  one  beheaded, 

and  the  seven  brethren,  whom  he  commanded  to  be  burnt; 

and  all  they  now  rejoice  before  God  for  ever. 

It  happened  then,  as  soon  as  they  were  slain, 

that  a  great  lightning-flash  fell  upon  the  wicked  heathen, 

and  a  mighty  earthquake,  and  terrible  thunder, 

so  that  of  the  wicked  ones  a  great  many  perished, 

and  no  place  remained  standing  with  the  gods  of  stone, 

nor  did  the  hail  leave  any  heathen  place  of  worship. 

Then  fled  Martianus,  very  nearly  slain, 

and  he  was  consumed  (with  disease)  after  a  few  days, 

so  that  worms  crept  alive  out  of  his  body, 

and  the  impious  one  departed,  with  torture  to  hell. 

The  saints'  bodies  by  believing  men 

were  soon  buried  with  gladness  within  God's  church. 

To  Him  aye  be  glory  for  ever  and  ever  !   and  we  say.  Amen  I 


8-2 


116  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

y. 

XIII.    KA-LENDAS  'F^'SmJARII  .   PASSIO   SANCTI 

SEBASTIANI  -KARTY^IS. 

[The  various  readings  are  from  C.  =  MS.  C.C.C.  198  ;  and  from  V.  =  MS. 
Cot.  Vitel.  D.  17,  fol.  35  b.] 

[Leaf  30,  back.] 

Qebastianus  hatte  sum  halig  godes  begn^ 

^  se  wses  lange  ou  lare  on  mediolana  byrig  . 

and  weartJ  on  criste'^  gefullod  .  mid  fullum  geleafan  . 

He  wses  swicSe  snotor  wer  .  and  sotSfsest  on  sprsece  .  4 

rihtwis  on  dome  .  and  on  rsede  fore-gleaw 

getreowe^  on  neode  .  and  Strang  fore-})ingere  * 

on  godnysse  scinende  .  and  on  eallum  Jieawum  arwurtJful  . 

Dseghwamlice  ^  he  gefylde  his  drihtnes  J^enunge  geornlice.  8 

ac  he  bediglode  swa  Jjeah  .  his  daeda  J)am  casere 

dioclitianse  ^  se  wses  deofles  big-gencga  ^ . 

He  lufode  swa  J^eah  Sone  halgan  wser  ®  . 

nyste  \xjet  he  gelyfde  .  on  ]?one  lifigendan  god  ,  12 

He  ge-sette  hine  to  ealdre  .  ofer  an "  werod  . 

and  h6t  hine  symble  ^^  beon  setforan  his  gesih?5e  . 

and  ealle  ]3a  hyred-menn  hine  hsefdon  for  feeder  . 

and  mid  lufe  wurSodon  "  .  for(5on  ]5e  god  hine  lufode  .  16 

He  folgode  \>am>  kasere  uncu??  him  swa  Jjeah  . 

na  swylce  he  ne  dorste  for  his  drihtne  c5rowian  . 

ac  he  wolde  gehyrtan  .  tSa  \>q  se  hsecSena  ^^  casere  . 

dteghwamlice  acAvealde  .  for  cristes  geleafan  .  20 

pa  geseah  sebastianus  hti  sume  ))a  cristenan  . 

woldon  awdcian  .  for  ^'  t5am  ormsetum  witum  . 

and  gehyrte  heora  mod  .  to  jjses  hselendes  geleafan  . 

and  ]3a  gode  gebrohte  .  ^pe  se  deofol  set-bredan  wolde  .  24 

pa  wseron  twegen  gebro'Sra  ^^  sej^elborene  ^^  for  worulde  . 

*  C.  V.  ])egen.         *  C.  om.  on  criste.         ^  C.  getrywe.         *  V.  fore  ])ingum. 

*  V.  Dseghwomlice ;  and  in  1.  20.  *  C.  V.  dioclitiane.  '  C.  bigenga. 

*  C.  V.  wer.        9  C.  anum.        >»  V.  symle.       "  6.  weor>odon.        "^  C.  haejjene. 
"  V.  of.  "  C.  gebroSru.  i'-  V.  ffi|)elborenne. 


V.    SAINT    SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  117 


JAN.  20.    PASSION  OF  SAINT  SEBASTIAN,  MARTYR. 

There  was  a  holy  servant  of  God,  called  Sebastian, 

who  was  a  long  time  in  the  city  of  Milan  for  education, 

and  was  baptized  into  Christ  with  full  faith. 

He  was  a  very  prudent  man,  truthful  in  word,  4 

righteous  in  judgment,  in  counsel  foreseeing, 

trusty  in  need,  a  prevailing  intercessor, 

shining  in  goodness,  and  in  all  his  ways  honourable. 

Daily  he  fulfilled  his  Lord's  service  zealously,  8 

but  he  concealed,  nevertheless,  his  deeds  from  the  emperor 

Diocletian,  who  was  the  devil's  worshipper. 

He  loved  the  holy  man,  notwithstanding, 

and  knew  not  that  he  believed  in  the  living  God.  12 

He  set  him  as  prefect  over  a  cohort, 

and  bade  that  he  should  always  be  in  his  presence; 

and  all  the  household  held  him  as  a  father, 

and  honoured  him  with  love,  because  God  loved  him.  16 

He  followed  the  emperor,  unknown  to  him,  however, 

not  as  if  he  durst  not  suffer  for  his  Lord, 

but  he  desired  to  encourage  those  whom  the  heathen  emperor 

daily  killed  for  their  faith  in  Christ.  20 

Then  Sebastian  perceived  how  some  of  the  Christians 

were  ready  to  lapse  because  of  the  exceeding  tortures; 

and  strengthened  their  minds  in  the  faith  of  Jesus, 

and  brought  those  to  God  whom  the  Devil  desired  to  seduce.        24 

There  were  two  brothers,  nobly  born  as  to  this  world, 


118  v.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MAETYRIS. 

marcus  .  and  marcellianus  .  mycclum  geswencte  . 

on  bendum  *  and  on  swiiigelum  ^  .  for  Sam  so}7an  geleafan  . 

Hi  sceoldon  pa  under-hnigan  .  ^nacodum  swurde'.  28 

ac  heora  frynd  abaedon*  fyrst  .  set  Jjam  gerefan 

tSrittigra  nihta  .  pcet  hi  hi  ^  gebigdon 

to  tSam  hseSen-gylde  .  pe  hi  sylfe  wurtSodon  . 

pa  be-tsehte  chromatins  .  se  heah-gerefa  pa.  cnihtas  .  32 

sumum  pegne^  to  ge-healdenne  .  se  hatte  nicostratus  . 

Tranquillinus  hatte  )?yssera  halgena  fse'^der. 

and  heora  modor  wses  martia  gecyged  . 

hsetSena  ph  gyt  .  and  hi  jjyder  comon  36 

mid  mycelre  sarnyssa^  .  peer  heora  ^  suna  waeron  gehsefte  . 

and  mid  mycclum  heofungum  heora"  geleafan 

woldon  awendan  .  and  }3a  wita'°  gestillan  . 

pser  comon  eac  heora  magas  .  and  mid  manegum  tihtingum     40 

]?sera  cnihta  mod  fram  cristes  geleafan  . 

woldon  awecgan"  .  swylce  hi  wislice  dydon  . 

heora  wif  eac  baeron  .  heora  beam  him  on  handum  . 

and  axodon  mid  wope  .  hwi  hi  swd  wselhreowlice  dydon  .        44 

pcet  hi  freonda'^  ne  rohton  .  ne  feeder  "o'5'Se  meder"  . 

and  heora  wif  awui'pon^*  .  and  wiSsocon  heora  beam  . 

and  heora  ^^  swuran  gearcodon  sylfwylles  to  siege  . 

Hwset  ?5a  Id  ongunnon  pa  godes  cempan  hnexian  48 

and  heora  mod  awendon  ^^  to  hyre  maga  sarnysse  . 

Da  geseah  sona  sebastianus  Jjset  . 

hu  }3a  godes  cempan  .  ongunnon  hnexian  , 

for  J?am  mycclan  gewynne  .  and  weartS  him  J?a  tomiddes  .         52 

and  cwsetS  to  J)am  cnihtum  .  mid  cenum  geleafan  . 

Eala  ge  godes  cempan  .  ge  be-comon  to  sige  . 

and  nu  ge  awurpatS  *''  eowerne  cyne-helm  . 

for  Jjam  earmlican  swsesnyssum  ^*  .  J?issera  heofiendra"  56 

^  C.  b^ndum  (icith  accent ;  and  so  in  many  other  tcords),  ^  C.  V.  swinglum, 
'"'  0.  nacedum  swyrdum.  *  C.  absedan.  *  C.  om.  2nd  hi.  *  C.  V.  Jjegene. 
''  Leaf  31.  8  c.  sarnysse;  V.  sarnysse.  "  C.  hyra.  '"  C.  witu. 

^'  V.  awegcan.         i'  C.  freondo  (sic).         ""^'  V.  ne  moder.         "  C.  for-wurpon. 
'*  C.  heo  (sic).  '*  C.  awendan.  "  C.  habbaS  aworpen  ;  V.  wurpa'S. 

"  C.  sweernyssuin.  '^  C,  heofigendra. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,   MARTYR.  119 

Marcus  and  Marcelllanus,  greatly  afflicted 

with  bonds  and  stripes  for  the  true  faith. 

They  were  to  undergo  the  naked  sword,  28 

but  their  friends  begged  of  the  prefect  a  respite 

of  thirty  nights,  that  they  might  turn  them  again 

to  the  heathenism,  which  they  themselves  honoured. 

Then  the  prefect  Chromatins  delivered  the  youths  32 

to  a  certain  officer  to  keep,  who  was  hight  Nicostratus. 

The  father  of  these  saints  was  named  Tranquillinus, 

and  their  mother  was  called  Martia, 

heathens  as  yet,  and  they  came  thither,  36 

with  great  sorrow,  where  their  sons  were  detained, 

and,  with  grievous  lamentations, 

sought  to  pervert  their  faith,  and  stay  the  tortures.  39 

There  came  also  their  kinsfolk,  and,  with  many  persuasions 

endeavoured  to  shake  the  fortitude  of  the  youths 

from  faith  in  Christ ;  as  if  they  were  acting  wisely. 

Their  wives  also  brought  their  children  to  them  in  their  hands, 

and  asked  with  weeping,  why  they  acted  so  cruelly,  44 

that  they  recked  neither  of  friends  nor  father  nor  mother, 

and  cast  off  their  wives,  and  forsook  their  children, 

and  obstinately  prepared  their  necks  for  slaughter. 

Well  then,  behold !  God's  champions  began  to  yield,  48 

and  to  turn  their  thought  on  their  kinsmen's  anguish. 

Then  Sebastian  soon  perceived  that, 

how  God's  champions  began  to  yield 

by  reason  of  the  great  conflict,  and  he  was  soon  in  their  midst, 

and  said  to  the  youths  with  courageous  faith,  53 

*0  ye,  God's  soldiers,  ye  are  come  to  the  victory, 

and  now  do  ye  cast  aside  your  crown  from  you, 

for  the  miserable  blandishments  of  these  wallers,  56 


120  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

Ne  awurpe  ^  ge  ic  bidde  eowerne  beorhtan  sige  . 

for  wifa  swsesnyssum  ^  .  o'S(5e  for  cylclra  tearum  . 

AreeraS  eower'sige-becn^  ,  fram  eortS-licum  ge-wilnunguw  . 

and  onginnatJ  eower  gefeoht  .  ongean  tJa  unge-sewenlican  *  fynd  . 

pas  ])e  h6r  nu  wepatS  .  woldon  mid  eow  blissian  .  61 

gif  hi  geare  ^  wiston  .  pcet  Ipcet  ge  nu  witon  . 

hi  wenatS  to  so]?um  ^  .  pcet  pis  lif  ana  sy  . 

and  ne  cunnon  pcet  oSer  .  pe  sefre  endeleas  bi(5  .  64 

pis  lif  is  swa  swicol  pcet  hit  symble  bepsectS'  . 

Jja  tJe  hit  swi|?ost  lufiaj)  .  and  geleafan  him  to  habbaS  . 

Dises  lifes  gewilnung  .  ge-lset  J)a  unstse'ScSian  * 

to  manegum  leahtrum  .  and  to  mislicum  ^  freced'^nyssum  68 

He  cwsetJ  J>a  to  j^am  magum  .  Se  |ja  martyras  mis-tihton  . 

Gif  nu  ]3as  gebrotSra  .  be  eowrum  benum  gebugatJ  . 

fram  heora  hselende "  to  eowrum  hsetSenscype  . 

Sonne  beoS  hi  mid  eow  on  sceortere  blysse  .  72 

and  beon  ^^  si'SSan  ascyrede  .  swa  pcet  ge  hi  ngefre  ne  geseo'S  • 

buton  on  recSum  witum  .  on  |?am  widgyllan  ^^  fyre  , 

Jjser  dracon  ^*  and  nseddran  .  mid  deofollicum  ^^  tot5um  . 

J)8era  hsetSenra  breost  .  biterlice  ceowatS  .  76 

peer  is  w6p  .  and  wanting  .  and  j^aes  ne  wurcS  ^®  nan  ende  . 

Ge}jafia'S  ic  bidde  j^isum  gebroj^rum  nu  . 

pcet  hi  )5as  witu  for-bugan  ^^  .  and  beo  ^*  ge  embe  pcet  ylce  . 

IsetacS  hi  nu  faran  .  to  tSam  forestihtan  ^®  kynehelme  ^° .  80 

and  ne  beo  ge  ofdreedde  .  ne  beotS  hi  fram  eow  ascyrede  . 

ac  hi  faratS  to  heofonum  .  to^^  hselende  criste  . 

and'^'^  rodorlice  wununga^^  witodlice  under-fo?S  . 

on  ])am  ge  sylfa^*  moton  mid  him  sefre  wunian  .  84 

selces  yfeles  orsorge  on  ecere  ^^  blysse  . 

^fter  Jjissere  lare  .  and  otSrum  langsumum  sprsecum  . 

*  C.  awyrpe.       *  V.  swaesnessum..       '  C.  -beacn,       *  C.  -licum.       '  V.  geara. 

*  C.  V.  so'San.  ''  V.  bepsec'5  symle.         *  C.  unsc8ej)))ian  ;  V.  unscse^^igan. 

*  C.  V.  inistlicu7/i.  '"  Leaf  31,  back.  "  V.  hselende  heora.  ^^  V.  bee's. 
"  C.  V.  wldgyllum.  "  C.  V.  dracan.  •'  C.  deoflicum  (sk).  '«  C.  wyrS. 
"  V.  for-bugon.  *"  V.  beon.  '^  C.  fore-stihtum.  ^^  V.  cynehelme. 
*'  C.  to  Sam.        ^^  C.  and  to.        ^^  V.  wununge.        **  C.  sylfe.        '^^  C.  selcere. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  121 

Cast  not  away,  I  entreat  you,  your  glorious  victory 

for  wives'  caresses,  or  for  children's  tears. 

Raise  your  standard  of  victory  above  earthly  desires, 

and  begin  your  fight  against  the  invisible  fiend.  60 

Those  who  here  now  weep,  would  rejoice  with  you, 

if  they  assuredly  knew  that  which  ye  now  know; 

of  a  truth  they  think  that  there  is  this  life  alone, 

and  know  not  that  other  which  will  be  everlasting;  64 

this  life  is  so  false  that  it  ever  deceiveth 

those  that  most  love  it,  and  have  trust  in  it. 

This  life's  desire  leadeth  the  unstable  {or  innocent) 

into  many  sins,  and  divers  perils.'  68 

Then  said  he  to  the  kinsfolk  who  were  seducing  the  martyrs, 

'If  now  these  brothers,  at  your  prayers, 

turn  back  from  their  Saviour  to  your  heathenism, 

then  they  shall  be  with  you  in  a  short  bliss,  ^2 

and  afterwards  will  be  parted,  so  that  ye  shall  never  again  see 

them 
except  in  fierce  torments  in  the  vast  fire, 
where  dragons  and  adders  with  devilish  teeth 
horribly  chew  the  breasts  of  the  heathen;  ^6 

there  is  weeping  and  wailing,  and  of  this  will  be  no  end. 
Grant,  I  pray  you,  now  to  these  brothers 
that  they  may  avoid   these   torments,  and   endeavour  ye  to  do 

the  same. 
Let  them  now  go  to  the  predestined  crown,  80 

and  be  ye  not  afraid;    they  shall  not  be  divided  from  you, 
but  they  shall  go  to  heaven  to  Jesus  Christ, 
and  receive  verily  celestial  dwellings, 

in  which  ye  yourselves  may  ever  abide  with  them,  84 

secure  from  every  evil  in  eternal  bliss.' 
After  this  exhortation,  and  other  lengthy  counsels. 


122  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYEIS. 

com  leoht  of  heofonum  .  to  t5am  halgan  wsere  ^  . 

and  mid  pam  leohte  set-eowde  ^  .  an  engel  witS  hine  .  88 

pa  wurdon  hi  ealle  .  J3urh  Ipcet  wundor  ablicgede  . 

and  J?8es  jjaegnes  ge-bedda  .  tSe  Jja  ge-bro]?ra  ^  heold  . 

wses  for  six  gearum  .  for  swi(51icre  untrumnysse  . 

hire  spraece  be-nsemed  .  and  heo  hndh  adune  92 

to  sebastianes  fotum  mid  fullum  geleafan  , 

pa  cw8e?5  sebastianus  .  gif  ic  sotS  godes  ]?eow*  eom  . 

and  gif  pcet  is  soS  Ipcet  ic  eow  ssede  . 

ge-openie  ^  Jjonne  se  selmihtiga  heelend  ^  96 

Jjises  wifes  mu?S  .  pcet  heo  msege  sprsecan'' 

setSe  Zacharian  mut5  his  mseran  witegan  . 

mid  witegunge  geopenade*  J^a  ?5a  he  awrat  lohannes  . 

pa  sprsec  pcet  dumbe  wif  .  hire  nama  wses  Zoe  .  100 

and  cwse'S  Ipcet  heo '  gesawe  .  }3one  scinendan  sencgel  ^° . 

cumende  of  heofenum  ^^  .  to  pam  halgan  wsere  ^^  . 

and  heold  ane  boo  .  set-foran  his  eagum  . 

and  be  ]?Eere  b^c  .  ssede  sebastianes  pa  lare  ,  104 

pa  cwsetS  Zoe  to  sebastiane  ^'eft  , 

Eadige  synd"  pa  pe  ]?inum  wordum  gelyfaS  . 

and  J:a  beocS  awyrigde  pe  J?ises  twyniatS  . 

swa  swa  dsegred  to-drsefS  J)a  dimlican  Jjystra  ^^  .  108 

and  manna  eagan"  onlyht  pe  blinde  wseron  on  niht"  . 

Swa  adrsefde  J?in  Idr  ]?a  geleaf-leaste  fram  me  . 

and  minne  mutS  geopenode  .  and  min  mod  onlihte  . 

Hwset  tSa  nicostratus  weartS  swiSe  afyrht .  112 

jja  tSa  he  pcet  wundor  ge-seah  .  on  his  wife  gedon  . 

and  feol  adune  sona  .  to  sebastianes  fotum  . 

biddende  forgifennysse  ^*  .  pcet  he  pa  brotSra  ^^  heold  , 

and  unbdnd  heora  handa  .  and  bsed  pcet  hi  awseg'^'*  eoden  .    116 

ac  hi  ^^  ]3urh-wunodon  swa  J)eah  on  jjam  gewinne  otS  deatS . 

^C.were.  "  C.  set-ywde.  '  C. ge-bro^ru.  *C.V.  jseowa.  *  V.  geo- 
pinige,  alt.  to  opinige.  *  V.  wealdend.  ''  G.  V.  sprecan.  *  V.  geopenode, 
alt.  to  openode.  »  C.  hi.  i"  C.  V.  engel.  "  C.  heofonum.  "  C.  V.  were. 
"  Leaf  32.  "V.  synt.  i'  C.  )jeostru.  "  C.  cm.  eagan.  "  C.  am.  on  niht. 
'*  C.  f orgyfe-nesse ;  V.  forgifnesse.      ^*  C.  ge-bro^ru.      ^"C.  V.  aweg.      **  C.  heo. 


V,    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,   MARTYR.  123 

came  a  light  from  heaven  to  the  holy  man, 

and  with  that  light  appeared  an  angel  opposite  him.  88 

Then  they  were  all  astonished  at  that  miracle; 

and  the  wife  of  the  officer,  who  had  charge  of  the  brothers, 

for  six  years,  through  a  severe  sickness, 

had  been  deprived  of  her  speech,  and  she  fell  down  92 

at  Sebastian's  feet,  with  full  faith. 

Then  said  Sebastian,  *If  I  am  God's  true  servant, 

and  if  that  is  true  which  I  have  said  to  you, 

then  may  the  Almighty  Saviour  open  96 

this  woman's  mouth,  that  she  may  speak, 

He  (I  mean)  who  opened  His  great  prophet  Zechariah's  mouth 

by  a  prophecy,  when  he  wrote  "John."' 

Then  spake  the  dumb  woman,  her  name  was  Zoe,  100 

and  said  that  she  had  seen  the  radiant  angel 

coming  from  Heaven  to  the  holy  man; 

and  that  he  held  a  book  before  his  eyes, 

and  from  that  book  Sebastian  taught  the  lore.  104 

Then  again  said  Zoe  to  Sebastian, 

'Blessed  are  those  that  believe  thy  word, 

and  those  are  accursed  that  doubt  this. 

Even  as  the  dawn  driveth  away  the  dim  dusk,  108 

and  enlighteneth  men's  eyes  that  were  blind  in  the  night, 

so  did  thy  teaching  drive  away  the  unbelief  from  me, 

and  opened  my  mouth  and  enlightened  my  mind.' 

Then  Nicostratus  was  greatly  afraid,  112 

when  he  saw  the  miracle  wrought  on  his  wife, 

and  straightway  fell  down  at  Sebastian's  feet, 

praying  forgiveness,  that  he  had  detained  the  brothers; 

and  unbound  their  hands,  and  begged  that  they  would  escape, 

but  they  nevertheless  continued  in  that  warfare  till  death.      117 


124  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI   MAKTYRIS. 

]>&  ongunnon*  heora  magas  myccluwi  be-hreowsian  . 

])cet  hi  sefre  j^a  martyras  mis-lseran  woldon  . 

and  ^ge-lyfdon  J?a^  ealle'  .  endemes*  on  crist .  120 

pa  h6t  sebastianus  Jjone  hgetSenan  ]5egn®  . 

pcet  he  \>a.  hseftlingas  .  J?e  h6  heold  on  Jjam  cwearteme 

gebrohte  to  his  sprsece  .  wolde  hi  ge-bigan  *  to  criste ''  . 

Ferde  J)a  siStSan  .  and  ge-fette  senne  msesse-preost .  124 

policarpus  gehaten  .  halig  waer  and  snotor  . 

pcet  he  pa  nige-hwyrfedan  ^  mid  fulluhte  apwoge  . 

pa  weartS  gefuUod  se  fore-sseda  ®  nicostratus  . 

mid  his  wife  .  Zoe  .  and  j^rym  and  Srittigum  mannu»i  128 

]?e  him  aer  folgodon  .  and  ^°  mid  him  gefullode  waeron  . 

"vEfter  Jjisum  wearS  gefullod  J^sera  martyra  feeder 

tranquillinus  mid  blysse  .  and  his  gebedda  martia  . 

mid  heora  hiwum  .  and  heora  suna  wifum  .  132 

M%er  }?ysum  ^^p^  haeft-lingas  J)e  sebastianus^^ 

^^het  Isedan  of  ]3am  hseftum  ealles"  sixtyne  . 

Dsera  martyra  feeder  marcellianes  .  and  marces  . 

waes  "  endlyfan  ^°  gear  ser  his  fulluhte  ge-untrumed  ^*  136 

Jjurh  Jja  mycclan  fot-adle  .  and  nahte  his  fse'Ses^'^  geweald 

ne  fiirtSon  ^'  ne  mihte  his  mete  him  arsecan  ^^  . 

for  J>am  segeslican^"  wearrum  .  j^e  on  his  limum  weoxon  . 

ac  sona  swa  h6  andette  ^^mid  ealre  heortan         ^  140 

Jja  halgan  Jjrynnysse  on  J)am  fulluht-baSe  . 

\>2k  wear's  he  ge-hseled  .  fi-am  eallum  his  sarnyssum'^^  . 

and  herede  Jjone  haelend  .  }?e  him  his  hsele  forgeaf . 

peer  wseron  eac  untrume  .  otSre  twsegen  '^'^  cnapan  .  144 

otSer  waes  waeter-seoc  .  otSer  call  on  wundum  . 

ac  hi  wurdon  gehselede  .  fram  heora  untrum-nysse  ^* 

mid  ]3am  Jje  se  msesse-preost  .  hi  mid  J)am  fulluhte  aj)w6h  . 

^  V.  ongunnan.  ^*  C.  hi  fa  gelyfdon.  '  V.  om.  *  V.  sendemes. 

'  C.  V.  Jjegen.  *  C.  gebigean.  ''  C.  crist.  *  C.  nlghwurfedan  {sic)  ; 

V.  nighwerfdan.  ^  C.  fore-saede.  ^"  V,  om.  "  V.  omifs  K.  130-132, 

^^"^'  C.  sebastianus  .  het  laedan  \a,  hseftlingas.  ^^"^'  C.  of  })8eTO  hseftum  .  ealle. 
"  V.  waeron.  "  C.  endlyfon ;  V.  sendlyofon.  ^^  V.  geuntrumod.  "  C.  fej>es. 
^*  V.  inserts  he.  '*  C.  rsecan.  *  C.  V.  egeslicum.  *^  Leaf  32,  back. 

**  V.  samys.  ^  C.  V.  twegen.  ^  C.  V.  untrum-nyssum. 


V.   SAINT  SEBASTIAN,   MARTYR,  125 

Then  began  their  kinsmen  sorely  to  repent, 
that  they  had  ever  wished  to  misteach  the  martyrs, 
and  in  the  end  they  all  believed  in  Christ.  izo 

Then  Sebastian  bade  the  heathen  officer 
bring  the  captives  whom  he  held  in  the  prison, 
to  his  instruction,  desiring  to  convert  them  to  Christ. 
Afterwards  he  went  and  fetched  a  mass-priest,  124 

hight  Polycarp,  a  holy  man  and  wise,  s 
that  he  might  wash  the  new  converts  by  baptism. 
There  were  baptized  the  aforesaid  Nicostratus, 
with  his  wife  Zoe,  and  three  and  thirty  men,  128 

who  had  followed  them  before,  and  were  baptized  with  them. 
After  this  were  baptized,  with  joy,  the  martyr's  father 
Tranquillinus,  and  his  wife  Martia, 

with  their  household,  and  their  son's  wives ;  132 

next,  the  captives  whom  Sebastian 
had  bidden  to  bring  out  of  the  prison,  sixteen  in  all. 
The  father  of  the  martyrs  Marcellianus  and  Marcus, 
was  afflicted  for  eleven  years  before  his  baptism  136 

with  a  grievous  foot-disease,  and  had  no  power  of  walking, 
nor  even  could  he  lay  hold  of  his  food  for  himself, 
by  reason  of  the  horrible  knots  which  grew  on  his  members ; 
but  as  soon  as  he  confessed  with  all  his  heart  140 

the  Holy  Trinity,  in  the  baptismal  font, 
then  was  he  healed  of  all  his  pains, 

and  praised  the  Saviour  who  had  granted  him  his  health. 
There  were  likewise  two  other  afflicted  youths,  144 

one  was  dropsical,  the  other  all  over  sores, 
but  they  were  healed  of  their  disease 

at   the   moment   when   the    mass-priest   washed    them   with   the 
baptismal  water. 


126  V.   PASSIO   SANCTI   SEBASTIANI   MARTYEIS. 

Hi  wurdon  pa,  ealle  .  Jjurh  J)a  wundra  onbryrde  .  148 

and  on  godes  herungum  ^  hi  sylfe  gebysgodon  . 

and  gearcodon  heora  mod  .  to  ?5am  martyr-dome  . 

cdflice  to  campienne  .  for  cristes  geleafan  . 

Hwset  \>&  chromatius  se  mihtiga  gerefa^  ,  152 

J?e  romana  byrig  .  under  J?am  casere  geweold  . 

het  tranquillinum  .  pcet  he  him  to  come 

wolde  witan  set  him  .  hwset  his  suna  hrseddon^  . 

binnan  Jsam  tSrittigum*  nihtum  .  pe  he  him  I6t  fyrste  .  156 

hwaeSer  hi  gebugan  ^  woldon  .  to  Sam  bysmor-fulluw  godum  . 

ot5(Se  ]3urh-wunian  on  tSam  witum  .  for  criste  . 

He  com  tSa  gehaten  to  |?am  heah-gerefan  . 

and  eac  ne  be-diglode  .  pcet  he  on  *  drihten  gelyfde '  .  160 

pa  cwseS  se  heah-gerefa  .  pe  J?a  git  hse'Sen  wses  . 

and  call  swa  yfele  ge-tucod  .  swa  tranquillinws  wses  ser  . 

Me  ]?inc]?  pcet  pn  bsede  }?inum  bearnum  fyrstes  . 

to  pi  poet  pn  gelyfdest  .  heora  leasum  gedwyldum  .  164 

pa  cwseS  tranquillinus  .  to  chromatise'^  ]?us  . 

pa  godas  pQ  ge  wurSiaS  .  wseron  arlease  menn^  . 

yfele  geborene  .  and  bysmor-fulle  on  life  . 

mid  facne  afyllede  .  and  forcS-ferdon  earmlice  .  168 

Cwyst  *  Jju  \k  pcet  nsere  ^°  nan  lyfigende "  god  . 

ser  |)an  *^  Se  saturnus  his  suna  abite  . 

and  heora  ^^  flsesc  sete  on  |>am  Ig-lande  cr^ta  ^*  . 

Eft  his  sunu^®  louis  .  pe  g6  wurSiatS  for  god  .  172 

se  wolde  acwellan  his  unclsenan  fseder  . 

pe  abdt  his  gebrotSra  j^a  ^*hi  geborene  wseron  . 

se  iouis  wses  afylled  .  mid  fulre  galnysse  . 

and  nam  his  agene  swystor"  .  to  his  ^^fuluw  synscype^^  .      176 

swa  swa  ge  rsedaS  on  eowrum  gerecednyssum  . 

La  hu  ne  dwselast"  Su  .  pe  on  pysum  gedwylde  gelyfst  . 

*  C.  heofungum.  "  V.  gerefe.  ^  q  y  raeddon.  *  C.  Jjrittig. 

«  V.  gebugon.         «-6  V.  drihtenne  gelefde.         ''  C.  V.  chromatic.         *  C.  men. 
»  C.  cwe>st.         10  C.  nsefre.  "  V.  lyfigenda.         ^^  V.  Jjam,         "  C.  heo. 

"  C.  craeta.         '^  C.  suna.         »«  Leaf  33.         "  V.  swustor.  '«-i«  C.  fulum 

scinscipum ;  V.  fulan  scinscype.         "  C.  V.  dwelast. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  127 

Then  all  were  encouraged  by  these  miracles,  148 

and  occupied  themselves  in  God's  praises, 

and  prepared  their  minds  for  martyrdom, 

boldly  to  contend  for  the  faith  of  Christ. 

Then  Chromatius,  the  powerful  prefect,  152 

who  governed  the  Roman  city  under  the  emperor, 

bade  Tranquillinus  to  come  to  him, 

desiring  to  know  of  him  what  his  sons  had  decided  on 

during  the  thirty  nights  that  he  had  allowed  them  for  respite; 

whether  they  would  bow  to  the  infamous  gods,  157 

or  remain  in  the  tortures  for  Christ's  sake. 

He  came  thus  summoned  to  the  prefect, 

and  moreover  concealed  not  that  he  believed  in  the  Lord.       160 

Then  said  the  prefect,  who  was  yet  a  heathen, 

and  quite  as  badly  tormented  as  Tranquillinus  was  before, 

'  Methinketh  that  thou  askedst  the  respite  for  thy  children 

to  the  end  that  thou  mightest  believe  their  lying  heresies.'     164 

Then  spake  Tranquillinus  to  Chromatius  thus, 

'The  gods  whom  ye  worship  were  wicked  men, 

evilly  born,  and  infamous  in  life, 

filled  with  crime,  and  died  miserably.  168 

Lo  !  thou  sayest  that  there  was  no  god  living 

before  Saturn  devoured  his  sons, 

and  ate  their  flesh  in  the  Island  of  Crete. 

Again,  his  sou  Jove,  whom  ye  worship  as  a  god,  172 

who  desired  to  kill  his  unclean  father 

that  devoured  his  brothers  as  soon  as  they  were  born, 

this  Jove  was  filled  with  foul  lust, 

and  took  his  own  sister  to  his  unclean  wedlock,  176 

even  as  ye  read  in  your  histories. 

Look  whether  or  no  thou  errest,  who  believest  in  this  deceit, 


128  V.   PASSIO   SANCTl    SEBASTIANI   MARTYRIS. 

and  |3as  arleasan  ^  menu  arwurcSast  ^  for  godas  . 

pn  for-lsetst  J?one  selmihtigan  god  .  jje  eardatS  on  heofonum  .  180 

and  cwsecSst^  to  j^am  stane  .  tSu  eart  min  god  . 

pa  ge-wende  tranquillinus  .  awseg^  sefter  ]?ysum  . 

ac  se  heah-ge-refa  .  het  hine  gefeccan 

dearnunga  on  niht  .  and  him  digellice  bead  184 

anne  *  gyldene  wecg  .  witJ  j^am  J?e  he  him  tsehte 

J?one  maeran  Isece-crgeft  .  Jse  hine  swa  ^mihte-lice  gehealde**  . 

pa  cwse'S  tranquillinus  .  pcet  mann  ®  cristes  gife  . 

ne  moste  syllan  witS  sceattum  .  olppe  swa  ge-bicgan  .  188 

ac  gelyf  on  fjone  hselend  and  ]ju  bist  swa  hdl  swa  ic''  . 

Chromatins  |?a  bsed  pcet  he  him  gebrohte^  ?5one  mann®  . 

pe  hine  gefullode  .  and  fram  Jjsere  cotSe  gehselde  . 

Tranquillinus  t5a  eode  to  t5am  arwurtJan  preoste  ,  192 

S3ede^°  hu  hi  sprsecon  .  and  hine  sona  geltedde  . 

to  J)am  heah-ge-refan  .  and  he  cwaetS  him  to  . 

peah  pe  J^aes  kaseres  ehtnys  J?a  cristenan  gedrecce  . 

I^eah  for  minre  hsele  .  ic  sylle  eow^^  healfne  dsel  196 

ealra  minre  ^^  sehta  .  gif  g6  mine  atelican  lima  . 

}?urh    senig    J?ing   ^^gehselen    magon^^    .    fram    pjsum    heardum 

wearrum  . 
pa  hloh  policarpus  .  and  cwsecS  to  j^am  untruman  . 
crist  mseg  Jsine  nytennysse^*  .  }3urh  his  miltsunge  onlihtan  .    200 
and  eacSelice  set-eowian  '^  .  pcet  he  is  Jjin  ed-sta|?eligend  . 
Se  tSe  sceattas  under-feh'S  .  and  syltS  godes  gife  ^^  . 
se  for-detS  ^"^  his  sawle  ^®  .  and  se  seoca  ne  biS  gehseled  . 
do  gelyf  on  ]?one  hselend  .  and  Iset  pe  fuUian  .  304 

and  p\x  bist  swa  gesund  .  swa  fjses  ^^  tranquillinus  . 
pSL  bead  policarpus  him  J>reora  daga  fsesten  . 
and  }3is  ^°  sona  ssede  ^^  ^^  sebastiane  . 

^"'  C.  men  drwyrSast.  "  C.  cwyjst ;  V.  cwe'Sst.  '  C.  V.  aweg.  *  C.  V.  aenne. 
*"*  C.  mihtlice  gelialde  ;  V.  mihtelice  gehselde.  *  C.  V.  man.  '  V.  ic  eom. 
*  V.  brohte.  »  C.  man.  "  C.  and  ssede  him.  "  C.  om.  eow, 

"*  C.  V.  minra.        ^'^^  C.  gehalan  magan.        "  C.  nyte-nesse ;  V.  nyte-nysse. 
"  C,  set-eowan.  "  V,  gifu.  >'  C.  deS  for.  "  y^  g^^ig,^ 

"  C.  V.  lies.         ""-^o  C.  saede  sona ;  V.  sona  cy«de.         »  Leaf  33,  tack. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR,  129 

and  honourest  these  wicked  men  as  gods; 

thou  forsakest  the  Almighty  God  who  dwelleth  in  Heaven,      i8o 

and  sayest  to  the  stone,  '  Thou  art  my  god.' 

Then  turned  Tranquillinus  away  after  this, 
but  the  prefect  bade  men  fetch  him 

privily  by  night,  and  offered  him  in  secret  184 

a  golden  wedge,  if  only  he  would  teach  him 
the  great  leech-craft  which  had  so  mightily  healed  him. 
Then  said  Tranquillinus,  'that  Christ's  gift 
might  not  be  given  in  exchange  for  money,  nor  thus  bought; 
but  believe  in  Jesus,  and  thou  shalt  be  as  whole  as  I.'  189 

Chromatins  then-  begged  him  to  bring  him  the  man 
who  had  baptized  him  and  healed  him  from  the  disease. 
So  Tranquillinus  went'  to  the  venerable  priest,  192 

told  how  they  had  conversed,  and  brought  him  at  once 
to  the  prefect,  and  he  [Chromatius]  said  to  him  [Polycarp] : 
'Though  the  emperor's  persecution  vexeth  the  Christians, 
yet  for  my  healing  I  will  give  you  half  196 

of  all  my  possessions,  if  ye  can  by  any  means 
cure  my  deformed  limbs  of  these  hard  knots.' 

Then  laughed  Polycarp,  and  said  to  the  sick  man, 
'  Christ  can   enlighten  thy   ignorance  through  His  mercy,       200 
and  easily  manifest  that  He  is  thy  Restorer. 
He  that  receiveth  money,  and  selleth  God's  gift, 
he  destroyeth  his  own  soul,  and  the  sick  is  not  healed ; 
but  believe  in  Jesus,  and  let  thyself  be  baptized,  204 

and  thou  shalt  be  as  sound  as  this  Tranquillinus.' 

Then  Polycarp  enjoined  on  him  a  three  days'  fast, 
and  he  straightway  told  the  same  to  Sebastian. 


130  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

hi  t5a  begen  baedon  binnon  J^am^  fyrste  god  .  208 

pcet  he  his  geleafan  ^  geswutelode  para  seocan  to  hsele  . 

Coman  ^  him  siStSan  to  and  hine  swses-lice  gretton  . 

pa  cwsetS  sebastianus  betwux  *  oSrum  sprsecon  **  . 

ne  scealt  pn  for  |?inre  hseltSe  anre  .  to  tSam  hselende  gebugan  . 

ne  for  'Sinuw  lichaman  annm  J>e  Isetan  fullian  .  213 

ac  switSor  for  hihte  psere  ecan  hseltSe  . 

and  for  ]?am  ece^  life  .  t5u  scealt  gelyfan  on  god  . 

Do  J? in  mod  hluttor'^  pcet  p\i  leornian  ^  msege^  216 

Jjurh  so'S-fae&t  ge-scead  hwa  Jjin  scyppend  sy  , 

ne  miht  pn  elles  habban  J^a  hsele  pe  p\x  secst^°  . 

Chromatins  pa^^  cwsetS  .  sume  cristene  synd  . 

to  ]3am  bilewite  menn  ^^  .  pcet  'Su  ne  miht  afindan  220 

of  anum  jjusende  anne  ^'  pe  msege  " 

^^  pe  eawfsest-lice  ^^  spraece  sprecan  ^®  o'S'Se  leomian  . 

hu  mihton  })as  becuman  to  cristes  geleafan  1 

Sebastianus  cwsetS  .  crist  geceas  .  fram  frymtSe  224 

hyrdas  .  and  yrtSlingas "  .  and  an-fealde  fisceras  . 

and  hi  si?5t5an  gelserde  and  to  lareowum  gesette  . 

pu  wurtSast  manega  godas  .  and  manega  gydenan  . 

butan  ^*  pn  hi  awurpe  .  ealle  fram  J^inre  heortan  .  228 

and  )3one  sotSan  god  .  pe  tJ^  gesceop  .  oncnsewst^'  . 

ne  miht  t5u  hsele  habban  .  ne  pcet  heofonlice  Iff . 

ac  Iset  us  nu  secan  ^°  Jjine  sceandlican  ^^  godas  . 

and  to-brecou  )?a  stsenenan  .  and  for-bernan  ^^  J^a  treowenan  .   232 

amyltan  pa.  sylfrenan  .  and  eac  swilce  t5a  gyldenan  . 

dgelan  siSSan  wsedligum  ^^  .  pa,  amoltenan  wsecgas  ^*  . 

Chromatins  cwae'S  ne  cume  ge  to  jsam  teonan  . 

ac  ic  bebeode  minum  J)eowum  .  pcet  hi  hi  ealle  to-bryton  ^^ .  236 

^  V.  om.              ^  v.  geleafon.              ^  C.  V.  Comon.  *  C.  be-tweox. 

'  C.  V.  spraecum.             ®  C.  V.  ecan.             ''  V.  hluttur.  *  C.  leomigan. 

»  V.  mage.        '«  C.  s^ce&t.        "  C.  V.  om.  >a.        ^^  C.  men.  "  C.  V.  senne. 

"V.mage.       '^^^  C.  \>ea.v/-f sestlic  (rightly).      '«  V.  sprecon.  "  C.  hyr«-lingas. 

"  V.  buton.             "8  C.  oncnaews  {sic).             ^^  C.  secean.  ^*  C.  scandlican. 

"'^  C.  for-bEcrnan.          ^^  C.  wa;dlicum.          ^*  C.  V.  wecgas.  ^'  C.  to-brytan  ; 
V.  tobrecan. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  131 

Then  they  both  prayed  to  God  during  that  space,  208 

that    He    would    make    manifest   His   truth    in    the    sick    man's 

healing. 
Afterwards  they  came  to  him,  and  kindly  greeted  him ; 
and  Sebastian  said  amongst  other  words, 

'Thou  must  not  for  thy  health's  sake  alone  turn  to  the  Lord, 
nor  for  thy  body  only  let  thyself  be  baptized;  213 

but  rather  for  hope  of  the  eternal  health, 
and  for  everlasting  life,  thou  must  believe  on  God. 
Make  thy  mind  pure,  that  thou  mayest  learn  216 

through  true  discernment  who  is  thy  Creator; 
else  thou  canst  not  have  the  healing  that  thou  seekst.' 

Then  said  Chromatins,  '  Some  Christians  there  are, 
men  simple  to  that  degree,  that  thou  canst  not  find  220 

one  in  a  thousand  who  is  able 
fittingly  to  speak  their  speech  or  to  learn. 
How  should  these  come  to  the  faith  of  Christ  1' 

Sebastian  said,  '  Christ  chose,  from  the  beginning,  2  24 

shepherds  and  husbandmen,  and  simple  fishers, 
and  afterwards  taught  them,  and  set  them  for  teachers. 
Thou  worshippest  many  gods,  and  many  goddesses ; 
unless  thou  cast  them  all  out  of  thy  heart,  228 

and  acknowledge  the  true  God  who  created  thee, 
thou  canst  not  have  healing,  or  the  heavenly  life. 
But  let  us  now  seek  thy  shameful  gods, 

and   break    in  pieces   the  stone  ones,  and  burn   up   the  wooden 
ones,  23a 

and  melt  down  those  of  silver,  and  likewise  the  golden, 
and  afterwards  deal  to  the  poor  the  molten  masses.' 

Chromatins  said,  '  Go  ye  not  into  harm, 
but  I  will  command  my  servants  that  they  break  them  all  in 
pieces.'  236 

9-2 


132  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

Sebastiauus  cwse'S  .  hi  ne  cunnon  tSone  geleafan  . 

ne  eac  hi  gebletsian  .  and  bi?S  se  deofol  geare^  . 

hu  he  him  derige  .  for  sum  urn  dyrnum  ^  gylte  ^  . 

and  cwsecSaf)  *  psk  hseSenan  .  poet  hi  wurdon  gehynde^  240 

forban  *  pe  hi  J^a  anlicnyssa  "^  ^  sefre  to-brecan  dorston ,. 

pa  pe  habbatS  geleafan  .  and  leornodon  to  campienne^  . 

ongean  ]3one  swicolan  feond  .  unforhte  }?urh'"  god  . 

and  habbatJ  cristas  byrnan  .  hi  magon  to-brecan  Sa  godas  .    244 

Chromatins  'Sa  cwaecS  .  to  J)am  cenum  godes  J^egnum  . 

gewurtSe  godes  willa^^  and  eower  eac  set  pysum  . 

Hi  ]5a  sona  begen  be-gyrndon  ^^  (sic)  hi  caflice . 

and  to  gode  gebsedon  .  and  to-brsecon  'Sa  anlicnyssa  248 

m4  )?one  ^^  twa  hund  .  micclum  gode  J^anciende "  . 

Chromatins  hsefde  behydd^^  .  on  his  digolnysse  . 

£n  wurtS-lic  ^®  weorc  .  on  mechanise  .  geweorc " . 

of  glsese  .  and  of  golde  .  and  of  glitiniendum'*  cristallan"  .      252 

Se  crseft  sceolde  wissian  .  gewisslice  ^°  be  steorrum  . 

hwset  ge-hwilcum  menn  ^'  gelumpe  on  his  lifes  endebyrdnysse  . 

ac  hit  wses  swa  gehiwod  .  sefter  hse'Senum  gedwylde  . 

pa  com  sebastianus  .  and  se  sacerd  policarpus  .  256 

seft  ^^  to  chromatic  .  and  ge-metton  hine  untnimne  . 

and  cwsedon  pcet  he  ^^  sum  Jjing  hsefde  ^^  untobrocen  . 

pe  his  hsele  hremde  ^*  jjurh  re'Se  wiglunga  ^^  . 

He  cwsetS  pd  ic  hsebbe  on  minum  hord-cleofan  ^^ .  -  260 

an  wundorlic  weorc  me  to  ge-wissunge  ^'^  .    - 

sefter  steorrena  gesetnyssum  .  swa  swa  hi  standatS  on  heofonum  . 

on  ]3am  crsefte  aspende  tranquillinus  min  fseder  . 

of  readum  golde  anum  .  md  Jjonne  twa  hund  punda  .  264 

pa  cwaeS  sebastianus  .  se  ge-sseliga  martyr  . 


'  C.  V.  gearo.  ^  V.  dyrne.  '  C.  gyltum.  *  C.  cwe})a?J. 

»  C.  gehynede ;  V.  gehenede.  ®  C.  forlSam.  ''  C.  anlycnysse.  **  Leaf  34. 
9  C.  campigenne.  '»  C.  wi\>.  "  C.  wylla.  '^  C.  gegyrdon ;  V.  begyrdon. 
"  V.  Jjonne,         '♦  C.  >^ncigende.  *'  C.  V,  behyd.         '"  C.  V.  wundor  lie. 

"  V,  geworc.  "  C.  glitigendum.  "  C.  cri.steallum.  ^'^  V.  gewislice. 

"  C.  men.  ^^  C.  V.  eft.  ^^-^  C.  hsefde  sum  Jjincg ;  V.  hafde  sum  })inc. 

**  C.  hennde.         ^^  V.  wigelunga.         "^  C.  -clyfan.         '^  V.  gewissunga. 


V.    SAINT  SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  133 

Sebastian  said,  'They  know  not  the  faith, 

nor  even  how  to  sign  themselves;    and  the  devil  will  be  ready 

(seeking)  how  he  may  injure  them,  for  some  secret  guilt; 

and  the  heathen  will  say  that  they  were  hurt  340 

because  they  durst  ever  break  in  pieces  the  images. 

Those  that  have  faith,  and  have  learned  to  fight 

fearlessly  against  the  treacherous  fiend  by  God's  help, 

and  have  Christ's  armour,  they  may  break  in  pieces  the  gods.' 

Then  said  Chromatius  to  the  brave  servant  of  God,  245 

'  God's  will,  and  yours  also,  be  done  in  this.' 

Then  forthwith  they  both  begirt  [begyrdon]  themselves  vigorously, 

and  prayed  to  God,  and  brake  in  pieces  the  images,  248 

more  than  two  hundred,  greatly  thanking  God. 

Chromatius  had  hidden  in  his  secret  chamber 
an  excellent  work  of  mechanical  contrivance, 
of  glass,  and  of  gold,  and  of  glistening  crystal.  252 

This  instrument  was  designed  to  show  with   certainty  by  the 
stars 
what  should  happen  to  every  man  in  the  course  of  his  life; 
but  it  was  so  formed  according  to  heathen  error. 
Then  came  Sebastian  and  the  priest  Polycarp  256 

again  to  Chromatius,  and  found  him  sick, 
and  said  that  he  had  something  unbroken 
which  hindered  his  healing  through  cruel  spells. 
He  said  then,  'I  have  in  my  treasure-chest  260 

a  wonderful  instrument,  for  my  information, 
according   to    the   position    of  the    stars   as   they   stand   in   the 

heavens. 
On  that  instrument  Tranquillinus  my  father 
spent,  of  red  gold  alone,  more  than  two  hundred  pounds.'       264 
Then  quoth  Sebastian,   the  blessed  martyr, 


134  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

Gif  J?u  ]?isne  crseft  healst  ^  .  pn  bist  pe  ^  sylf  un-li4l  ^ . 
Cliromatius  cwseS  .  hwaet  dera'5  pis  senigum  . 
ne  we  hit  ne  wur'Sia'S  .  mid  ge-wunelicum  ofFrungum  .  268 

ac  hit  gewissatS  us  .  ]3urh  wisne  lareow-dom  . 
to  gearlicum  tidum  .  and  tunglena'  ymbrynum  . 
Policarpus  ssede  Jjis  we  for-seo'S  . 

on  ]?am  is  *  sotSfest-nysse  gelicnys*  .  ac  hit  is  leas  swa  j^eah  .272 
Sebastianus  cweej?  .  ]?is  is  swutol  ge-dwyld  . 
and  leas  ydelnyss  .   swa  swa  we  leornodon  set  criste  . 
®  Manega  menn  adrinca'S  .  on  anum  dsege  togaedere  *  . 
pe  on  mislicum'^  tidum  to  middan-earde  comon  .  276 

Oft  on  anum  gefeohte  feallatS  for  wel  manige  ^  . 
pe  under  anu?n.  tungle  .  nseron  ser  akennede  . 
Eft®  on  anre  tide  twa  mseden-cild ^'^  cumatS  . 
and  bi(S  pcet  dn  syde-full  .  and  pcet  otSer  sceandlic  .  280 

Nis  pcet  clsene  herigendlic  .  ne  pcet  gale  tallic  . 
gif  him  steorran  forgefon "  .  pcet  hi  swa  lyfedon  '^  . 
For'Si  synd  laga  gessette "  .  pcet  menn  '*  rihtlice  libban  ^'  . 
and  p<xt  pa,  riht-wisan  beon  ge-herode  .  and  ))a  unriht-wisan  ge- 
hynde  .  284 

pa  wundrode  chromatius  .  heora  wisera^*  worda  .  and  cwsetS  . 
se  is  sots  god  .  pe  swa  gesceadwise  biggengan  hceftS  . 
He  ge-J?afode  Sa  pcet  hi  pcet  weorc  to-wurpon  . 
ac  his  sunu  tiburtius  sona  mid  gebeote  288 

cwse|5  pcet  he  nolde  nates  "  hwon  gejjafian. 
pcet  man  swa  deorwurSne  crseft  sefre  to-cwysan  sceolde  . 
butan  man  ]?a  halgan  wurpe  .  on  twsegen  '*  hate  ofnas  . 
gif  his  faeder  nsere  gehseled  .  sefter  J^sere  brsece^®  .  293 

pa  for-bead  se  feeder  ]5one  frecen-fullan  cwyde  . 
ac  ]?a  halgan  tihton  pa;t  man  |3a  ofnas  ontende^**  . 

1  C.  hyltst ;  V.  hyldst.  =*  C.  sylfum  h^  (^ic).  =*  V.  tungla.  *"*  C.  so]?- 
faest  gelicnyss ;  V.  soSfaestnysse  gelicnys.  *  Leaf  34,  back.  "^  C.  setgsedere. 
''  C.  mistlicum.  «  C.  V.  manige.  »  V.  Oft.  "  V.  maedan-cild. 

"  C.  V.  forgeafon.  »^  C.  lufodon  ;  V.  lyfdon.  '*  C.  V.  gesette.  "  C.  men. 
"  C.  lybbon.  ^  C.  wfsra.  "  V.  natses.  "  V.  twegen.  "  C.  sprsece  ; 
V.  brece.         ^^  C.  V.  ontsende. 


V.    SAINT    SEBASTIAN,   MARTYE.  135 

'  If  thou  keep  back  this  instrument,  thou  shalt  thyself  be  diseased.' 

Chromatins  said,  '  How  doth  this  hurt  any  one  ? 

We  worship  it  not  with  the  accustomed  offerings,  368 

but  it  teacheth  us,  by  wise  instruction, 

as  to  the  yearly  seasons,  and  the  circuits  of  the  planets.' 

Polycarp  said,  '  This  we  contemn  ; 

therein  is  a  likeness  of  truth,  but  it  is  false  nevertheless.'      272 

Sebastian  said,  'This  is  manifest  error, 

and  lying  vanity,  even  as  we  learned  of  Christ. 

Many  men  are  drowned  in  one  day  together, 

who  at  divers  seasons  came  into  the  world,  276 

Often  in  one  fight  fall  very  many  men, 

who  erst  were  not  born  under  one  planet. 

Again  at  one  time  two  maiden- children  come, 

and  the  one  will  be  modest  and  the  other  will  be  shameless; 

the  pure  is  not  laudable  nor  the  wanton  blameable  281 

if  the  stars  assigned  them  so  to  live. 

Therefore  laws  are  fixed  that  men  may  live  rightly, 

and  that  the  righteous  be  praised  and  the  unrighteous  shamed.' 

Then  wondered  Chromatins  at  their  wise  words,  and  said,       285 

'  He  is  the  true  God  who  has  such  discerning  worshippers.' 

Then  he  consented  that  they  should  destroy  the  instrument. 

But  his  son  Tiburtius  immediately  with  a  threat  288 

said  that  he  would  not  in  anywise  suffer  them 

ever  to  break  up  so  costly  a  work, 

unless  the  saints  were  thrown  into  two  hot  ovens, 

if  his  father  were  not  healed  after  the  breaking.  292 

Then  the  father  forbade  the  wicked  command; 

but  the  saints  begged  that  the  ovens  might  be  kindled, 


136  V.    PASSIO    SANCTl    SEBASTIANI    MARTYKIS. 

and  ge-baedon  hi  to  gode  .   and  to-brsecon  pcet  weorc  . 

Hwset  pa,  fserlice  com  faeger^  godes  engel  296 

and  cwsetS  to  chroraatise^  .  crist  me  asende''  to  pe  . 

on  Jjone  J^e  tSu  gelyfst  .  pcet  pme  lima  beon  ge-hselede  , 

^fter  *  }3ysum  worde  *  .  he  weartS  call  ®  gehseled  . 

and  arn  to  paia  angle "  .  wolde  his  fet  gecyssan  .  300 

Se  engel ''  him  cwaitS  to  .  Ne  cys  J?u  mine  fet  . 

ne  ]?u  me  ne  hrepa  .  forcSan  pe  p\x  ne  eart  gyt  gefullod  . 

pa  pa,  se  sunu  pcet  ge-seah  .  ]5a  ge-sohte  he  )?ses  preotites  fet  . 

and  se  feeder  feoll  to  sebastianus  ^  fotum  .  304 

baegen  *  clypigende  .  crist  is  soS  god  . 

and  selmihtig  godes  sunu  .  pe  '"  git  J^egnas  gode  ^"  bodiaS  . 

pa  weartS  gefullod  feeder  .  and  sunu  . 

mid  heora  inn-hyrede  .  "  and  heora  sehta  ^^  mannu//i  308 

segSres  hades  menu  ^^  .  ma  Jjonne  an  tSusend  . 

J?a  cwsetJ  chromatins  .  se  cristena  J^egn  ^*  . 

pcet  he  eallum  gemiltsode  .  pe  him  sefre  abulgon  . 

and  Jjam  eallum  forgeafe  pe  him  aht  sceoldon^®  .  312 

and  gif  he  hwsene  berypte  .  pcet  he  him  pcet  forgulde  . 

He  freode  ealle  his  menu  ^^  .  and  him "  feoh  dselde  . 

and  cwsetS  Sset  he  witS  soce  f)am  geswsesum^^  lustum  . 

jjissere  worulde  .  pe  is  gewitendlic  .  316 

His  sunu  tiburtius  .  se  snotera  ^^  cniht  cwsetS  . 

Ic  awende  minne  willan  .  fram"  eallum  woruld-jsingum  . 

to  gastlicum  weorcuw  .  nu  ic  godes  mann  ^^  eom . 

an^''  of  })am  ge-tele^^  .  pe  pcet  ece  lif  under-fotS  .  320 

On  para  dagum  waes  sum  wis  papa  on  rome^*  . 

gaius  gehaten  .  haliges  lifes  mann^*  . 

"wi'5  ]?one  rsedde  chromatins  and  be  his  rsede  under-feng 

ealle  Jia  cristenan  into  his  cafertune  .  324 


*  C.  om.  faeger.  ^  C.  V.  chromatic.  ^  C.  sende.  *"'  C.  ))y8Bum  wdrdum. 
'  C.  eal.  «  V.  tengle.  ''  V.  sengel.  *  V.  sebastianes.  *  C.  V.  begen. 
"-10  c.  gyt  godes  ])enas;  V.  gyt  gode  ])enas.  "  Leaf  35.  '^  C.  aehte. 

»3  C.  men.  »  C.  V.  J>egen.  >«  C.  scdlden.  '«  C.  men.  "  C.  him  on ; 
V.  beom.  **  C.  ge-swa'slicum.  '»  C.  snottera.  *"  C.  fram  me  {wrongly) 
"  C.  man.        ^^  C.  om.  an.        '•'^  C.  getsele.        '■'*  V.  romana. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MAUTYR.  13T 

and  commended  themselves  to  God,  and  brake  the  instrument. 

Lo  then  came  suddenly  a  fair  angel  of  God,  296 

and  said  to  Chromatins,  *  Christ  sent  me  to  thee, 

in  whom  thou  believest  that  thy  limbs  may  be  healed.' 

After  this  word  he  was  entirely  cured, 

and  ran  to  the  angel,  desiring  to  kiss  his  feet.  300 

The  angel  said  to  him,  '  kiss  not  thou  my  feet, 

neither  do  thou  touch  me,  for  that  thou  art  not  yet  baptized.' 

When  the  son  saw  that,  he  sought  the  priest's  feet, 

and  the  father  fell  at  Sebastian's  feet,  304 

both  crying,  *  Christ  is  true  God, 

and  the  son   of  Almighty  God,  whom  ye  two   servants   of  God 

preach.' 
Then  were  baptized  father  and  son, 

with  their  household  servants,  and  men  on  their  estates,         308 
persons  of  either  sex,  more  than  a  thousand. 
Then  said  Chromatius,  the  Christian  thane, 
that  he  pardoned  all  who  had  ever  angered  him, 
and  forgave  all  who  owed  him  aught;  312 

and  if  he  had  plundered  any  one,  that  he  would  repay  it  him. 
He  freed  all  his  slaves,  and  distributed  money  to  them, 
and  said  that  he  renounced  all  the  alluring  pleasures 
of  this  world,  which  is  transitory.  316 

His  son  Tiburtius,  the  prudent  youth,  said, 
'I  have  turned  my  will  from  all  worldly  things 
to  ghostly  works,  now  that  I  am  God's  man, 
one  of  the  tale  that  shall  receive  the  everlasting  life.'  320 

In  those  days  there  was  a  certain  wise  pope  in  Rome, 
Caius  by  name,  a  man  of  holy  life ; 

with  him  Chromatius  took  counsel,  and  by  his  advice  received 
all  the  Christians  into  his  residence,  324 


138  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANl    MARTYRIS. 

and  him  big-lyfan  ^  fore-sceawode  .  for  ]3sere  swiSlican  eht-nysse . 

pe  tSa  niwan  asprang  ,  sefter  carines  siege. 

pain  casere  nses  pa.  gyt  cutS  .  pcet  chromatius  cristen  wses  . 

and  he  be-geat  (5a  leafe^  pcet  he  of  ]3ain  lande'  moste  .  328 

pa  behead  se  papa  ]3am  preoste  poHcarpe  . 

pcet  he  ge-wende  of  rome  mid  Jjam  rum-gyfolan  *  Jjegne  ®  . 

and  clypode  to  tSam  cristenum  .  pe  mid  chromatise®  wseron  . 

Ure  haelend  lyfde  pcet  mann'  his  life  gebeorge®  .  332 

fara*  nu  se  pe  wille  .  ^"fortS  mid  chromatise  . 

and  wunige  se  pe  wille  ^°  .  mid  me  on  Jjyssere  byrig  . 

pa  bsed  tiburtius  .  poet  he  beon  moste  .  mid  jjam  papan  , 

cwsetS  poet  him  wynsum  wsere  pcet  he  wurde  ofslagan  ^^  .  336 

gif  he  mihte  J^usend  sitSon  ^^  .  for  Sam  sotSan  geleafan  . 

and  pcet  ece  lif  ge-earnian  pe  nsenne  ende  nsefS  . 

pa  be-l4f  sebastianus  on  ]38ere  byrig  mid  ]3am  papan  . 

and  se  geonga  tiburtius  .  and  J^a  twsegen  gebro'Sra  .  340 

marcus  .  and  marcellianus  .  mid  heora  feeder  tranquilli'^ne  . 

Nicostratus  mid  his  brewer  .  and  his  gebeddan  Zee  . 

Uictorinus  mid  his  breSer  .  and  his  brotJor  suna  . 

pas  belifon  on  rome  .  on  Jjsere  retSan  eht-nysse  .  344 

and  Jja  ojire  ealle  endemes  ^*  ferdon  awaeg  ^^  . 

mid  chromatise'^  .  swa  swa  him"  crist  gewissode  . 

pa  gehadode  se  papa  tranquillinum  to  preoste  . 

his  twsegen  '*  suna  to  diaconum  .  and  ]?a  oSre  to  subdiaconum  '^  348 

sebastianum  he  ge-sette  .  him  "  eallum  to  mund-boran  . 

Hi  wurdon  tSa  gebysgode  on  heora  ge-bedum  ealle  . 

dseges  and  nihtes  .  heora  drihten  herigende  . 

biddende  mid  wope  .  poet  hi  -wurSe^"  wseron  .  352 

for  criste  to  Jsrowigenne  '^  .  and  be-cuman  ^^  to  his  halgum  . 

Hi  ge-hseldon  untrume  mid  halgum  gebedum  . 

'  C.  big-leofon ;  V.  big-leofan.  '  V.  leafa.  ^  V.  wican.  *  V.  rum-geofolan. 
'  C.  ])egene.  '  C.  V.  chromatie.  ^  C.  man.  "  V.  geburge.  *  C.  V.  fare. 
"*■'"  C.  omits,  ^^  C.  ofslsegen,  *^  C.  sij)uin.  ^'  Leaf  35,  back. 

"  C.  endemest.  ^^  C.  aweg.  ^*  C.  chromatie.  "  C.  heom  on 

(written  heomon).  "  C.  twegen.  *^  C.  subdiacone.  ^  C.  weor))e. 

"  C.  Crowigende  (om.  to).        ^^  C.  becumon. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  139 

and  provided  them  with  victuals,  because  of  the  fierce  persecution 
which  sprang  up  anew  after  the  murder  of  Carinus. 

It  was  not  yet  known  to  the  Emperor  that  Chroraatius  was  a 
Christian, 
and  he  obtained  leave  to  go  out  of  the  country,  328 

Then  the  pope  bade  the  priest  Polycarp 
to  depart  from  Rome  with  the  munificent  thane, 
and  proclaimed  to  the  Christians  who  were  with  Chromatius, 
*  Our  Saviour  permitted  that  a  man  should  preserve  his  life ; 
go  now,  he  who  will,  forth  with  Chromatins,  333 

and  remain,  he  who  will,  with  me  in  this  city.' 
Then  prayed  Tiburtius  that  he  might  be  with  the  pope, 
saying,  that  it  would  be  sweet  to  him  to  be  slain,  336 

if  he  might,  a  thousand  times,  for  the  true  faith, 
and  earn  the  everlasting  life  which  never  endeth. 
There  remained  in  the  city,  with  the  pope,  Sebastian, 
and  the  young  Tiburtius,  and  the  two  brothers  340 

Marcus  and  Marcellianus,  with  their  father  Tranquillinus, 
Nicostratus,  with  his  brother  and  his  wife  Zoe, 
Victorinus,  with  his  brother,  and  his  brother's  son ; 
these  remained  in  Rome  in  the  fierce  persecution,  344 

and  all  the  others  at  last  went  away 
with  Chromatins,  even  as  Christ  instructed  them. 
Then  the  Pope  ordained  Tranquillinus  priest, 
his  two  sons  deacons,  and  the  others  subdeacons.  348 

Sebastian  he  constituted  protector  of  them  all. 
Then  were  they  all  engaged  in  prayer, 
day  and  night,  praising  their  Lord, 

praying  with  weeping,  that  they  might  be  worthy  352 

to  suffer  for  Christ  and  to  come  to  his  saints. 
They  healed  the  sick  by  holy  pi'ayers. 


140  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

and  blinde  on-lihton  .  J)urh  heoi-a  geleafan  . 

and  of  wodum  mannum  .  pa.  awyrigedon  ^  deoflu  afligdon  ^ .    356 

Tiburtius  gemette  aenne  mann  ^  afeallene. 

Ipast  he  his  heafod  to-broec  .  and  eac  his  ban  to-cwysde  . 

pa  sang  he  him  ofer  .  pater  nosier  .  and  credan  . 

and  se  mann  ^  sona  ge-sund-ful  aras  .  360 

and  beah  to  fulluhte  mid  his  feeder  and  meder  . 

JEfter  pysum  wearS  ge-lseht  seo  eadige  Zoe  . 

and  for  criste  acweald  .  and  becom  to  his  halgum  . 

pa  oSre  wurdon  eac  ealle  ge-martyrode  .  364 

tranquillinus  wearcS  of-torfod  mid  stanum  . 

Nicostratus  se  se'Sela  wearS  seft*  gelseht  . 

mid  feower  his  ge-ferum  .  and  toforan  pam  deman  gebroht  . 

fabianus  gehaten  ,  pe  feug  to  J?sere  scire®  368 

sefter  chromatiae  ®  .  se  wses  Sam  cristenan ''  onwerd  ^  . 

He  axode  ]5one  casere  hu  he  embe  ®  hi  sceolde  " . 

t5a  h6t  s6  arleasa  hi  ealle  fif^^  pinian  ^^  . 

Fabianus  Jja  se  feondlica  dema  372 

J?a  tSa  he  ne  mihte  J^a  menn  '^  gebigan  **  fram  criste  . 

Jjurh  ]5a  reSan  wita  .  ]?a  h6t  he  hi  wurpan  ut  on  sae  . 

^fter  Jjysum  weartS  ge-lseht  se  geleaffulla  tiburtius  . 

pa.  h6t  fabianws  pcet  h6  J^am  fulan  loue  .  376 

recels  ge-offrode  .  ocS'Se  code  him  sylf 

ofer  byrnende  gleda  mid  his  barum  fotum 

"  Hwset  tSa  tiburtius  .  bealdlice  code  . 

ofer  tSa  byrnendan  gleda  .  unfor-bsernedum  fotum  ^'  ,  380 

and  cwsetS  pcet  him  jsuhte  .  swylce  he  eode  ofer  blostman  ^^ . 

Fabianus  ]7a  Jjses  "  feondes  Jj^n  "  . 

h6t  beheafdian  ]5one  hdlgan  tiburtium  . 

and  siScSan  acwealde  J)one  halgan  ^^  castolum  .  384 

pe  hsefde  ge-innod  ealle  ]3as  halgan  . 

1  C.  awyrgedan.  ^  q  aflidon.  ^  C.  man.         *  C.  eft.  »  C.  scyre. 

*  C.  chromatie.  ''  C.  cristenum.  «  C.  onweard.  ^  C.  ymbe. 

!•  C.  scdlde.       "  C.  wlf  {sic).        "  C.  plnigan.        "  C.  men.       "  C.  gebfgean. 
»  Leaf  36.  15-15  c  omits.  i«  C.  blostmum.  '''■"  C.  deofles  t>egen. 

"  C.  cristene  nan  (sic). 


V,    SAINT    SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  141 

and  enlightened  the  blind  by  their  faith, 

and  out  of  possessed  men  cast  the  unclean  devils.  356 

Tiburtius  found  a  man  fallen  down, 

so  that  he  had   fractured   his   skull,  and   moreover  crushed   the 

bone. 
Then  he  sang  over  him  the  Pater-noster,  and  the  Credo, 
and  the  man  immediately  arose  sound,  360 

and  submitted  to  baptism  with  his  father  and  mother. 
After  this  was  apprehended  the  blessed  Zoe, 
and  slain  for  Christ,  and  she  departed  to  his  saints. 
The  others  were  all  likewise  martyred ;  364 

Tranquillinus  was  stoned  with  stones; 
the  noble  Nicostratus  was  afterwards  seized, 
with  four  of  his  companions,  and  brought  before  the  judge 
called  Fabianus,  who  succeeded  to  the  province  368 

after  Chromatins,  and  was  hostile  to  the  Christians. 
He  asked  the  emperor  how  he  should  deal  with  them; 
then  that  wicked  man  commanded  to  torture  them  all  five. 
Fabianus  then,  the  fiendlike  judge,  372 

when  he  could  not  turn  the  men  from  Christ 
through  the  cruel  tortures,  bade  them  be  cast  into  the  sea. 
After  this  the  faithful  Tiburtius  was  taken ; 
then  Fabianus  ordered  that  he  should  offer  incense  376 

to  tlie  foul  Jove,  or  himself  walk 
over  burning  coals  with  bare  feet. 
And  lo  !    Tibertius  went  boldly 

over  the  burning  coals  with  unburnt  feet,  380 

and  said  that  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  he  were  walking  over  flowers. 
Wherefore  Fabianus,  the  servant  of  the  devil, 
commanded  the  holy  Tiburtius  to  be  beheaded, 
and  afterwards  killed  the  holy  Castulus,  384 

who  had  hospitably  entertained  all  these  saints. 


142  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

He  ^  gehgefte  eft  sitS'San  tranquillines  suna  . 
marcellianus  and  marcus  .  on  anum  miccluw  stocce  . 
and  mid  isenum  pilum  .  heora  ilas^  gefsestnode  .  388 

and  cwsetS  pcet  hi  sceoldon  swa  standan  .  on  )?am  pilum  , 
d^cet  hi  geoffrodon  heora  14c  J)am  godum  . 
Hi  sungon^  pa,  sona  ]?isne  sealm  him  betwynan*  . 
Ecce  quam  bonum  et  quam  iocundum  habitare  iratres  in  unura  . 
et  cetera.  .  392 

Eala  hu  mycel  god  is  .  and  hwjlc  wynsumnys 
tJser  tSaer  gebrotSru  °  beoS  on  annysse  . 
pa  cwsetS  se  gerefa  ^  jje  him  swa  recSe  wses . 
Eala  ge  ungesseligan  .  and  sotSlice  earmingas  .  396 

alecgatJ  eowre  ge-wit-leaste ''  .  and  alysaS  eow  fram  witum  . 
pa  gebrotSra  cwsedon  ,  pcet  hi  on  cristes  lufe 
pa  weeron  gefsestnode  .  mid  fulre  blysse. 

and  on  swilcum  estum  ser  nseron  on  life  .  400 

wiscton  pcet  hi  moston  swa  wunian*  otS  ende  . 
Hi  stodon  ]5a  stille  on  j^am  stocce  gefeestnode 
ofer  daeg  .  and  ofer  niht  .  heora  drihten  herigende  . 
pa  het  fabianus  mid  fulluw  graman  404 

pcet  hi  man  begen  ofstunge  Jjser  Sser  hi  on  ge-bedum  stodon  . 
and  hi  swa  mid  wuldre  gewendon  to  criste  . 
Hwset  )3a  fabianus  .  mid  facne  gevvregde 

Jjone  setSelan  Sebastianum  .  to  tSam  arleasan  casere  408 

dioclitiane  .  pe  on  t5am  dagum  wses  . 
J?a  het  se  kasere  hine  gefseccan '  hratSe  . 
and  cwsetS  him  sona  to  .  mid  swicolum  gejjance  • 
Ic  hsefde  pe  mid  }3am  fyrmestan^" .  pe  minum  hyrede  folgodon  .    412 
and  }ju  lutodest  ot?  ]?is  on  ]3am  lat5um  cristen-dome  . 
Jsam  godum  to  teonan  .  and  me  to  un-J^earfe  . 
Sebastianus  cwsetS      Crist  ic  wur?5ode  "  symle  ^^  . 
and  for  tSe  J)ingode  .  and  for  J^inum  folce  .  416 


'  C.  Hi.         *  C.  ylas.         =*  C.  sungan.         ♦  C.  betw^onan.  =  q  gebroSra. 

•  C.  rdfa.         ■'  C.  -lyste.         »  C.  wunigan.         »  C.  gefeccan.         »o  C.  fyrmestum. 
"  C.  weor))ode.  '^  C.  symble. 


V.    SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  143 

Again  thereafter  he  put  the  sons  of  Tranquillinus, 

Marcellianus  and  Marcus,  in  a  great  pillory, 

and  made  fast  the  soles  of  their  feet  with  iron  nails,  388 

saying  that  they  should  stand  thus,  upon  the  nails, 

until  they  offered  their  sacrifice  to  the  gods. 

They  sung  then  immediately  this  psalm  between  them, 

*  Ecce  quam  bonum  et  quam  iocundum  habitare  fratres  in  unum,  et 

cetera.'  392 

'  Behold  how  great  good  it  is,  and  how  great  pleasure, 
wherever  brethren  dwell  in  unity!' 

Then  said  the  prefect,  who  was  so  bitter  against  them, 
'  0  ye  unhappy  and  truly  miserable  beings,  ,^96 

lay  aside  your  madness,  and  release  yourself  from  torments.' 
The  brothers  said,  that  they  for  the  love  of  Christ 
were  fastened  there,  with  full  happiness, 

and  were  never  before  in  their  lives  among  such  delights,       400 
and  wished  that  they  might  so  remain  until  the  end. 
So  they  stood  still,  fast  in  the  pillory, 
all  day  and  all  night,  praising  their  Lord. 

Then  bade  Fabianus,  in  exceeding  fury,  404 

that  they  should   both  be   thrust   through,  where  they  stood  in 

prayer, 
and  they  thus  gloriously  departed  to  Christ. 
Then  Fabianus  wickedly  accused 

the  noble  Sebastian  to  the  impious  emperor  408 

Diocletian,  who  ruled  in  those  days. 
Then  bade  the  emperor  fetch  him  speedily, 
and  said  to  him  straightway  with  treacherous  mind, 

*  I  held  thee  amongst  the  foremost  of  my  household  servants, 
and  thou  hast  lurked  until  now  in  that  hateful  Christianity, 
to  the  dishonour  of  the  gods,  and  to  my  disadvantage.' 
Sebastian  said,  'Christ  I  worshipped  ever, 

and  interceded  for  thee,  and  for  thy  people;  416 


144  V.    PASSIO    SANCTI    SEBASTIANI    MARTYRIS. 

^  Ic  me  gebidde  to  'Sam  gode  .  pe  bicS  eardigende  '^ 

on  heofonum  .  mid  liealicum  raaegen-j^rymme  . 

"Wod  bi(S  se  Se  bit  set  blindum  stanum  . 

^nigne  fultum  .  on  his  frecednyssum  .  420 

pa  wear's  dioclitianus  deoflice  gi  am 

and  h^t  bine  Isedan''  on  heardum  bendum  . 

ut  to  anum  felda  and  hine  Jjser  gefaestnian* 

and  hentan  his  mid  flanum  .  oS  pcet  he  his  feorh  ageafe  .      424 

pa  Iseddan  pa,  cempan  })one  cristas  pegn  . 

and  setton  hine  to  myrcelse  .  swa  swa  se  manfulla  het . 

and  heora  flan  him  on  afsestnodon  ^  .  foran  .  and  hindan  *  . 

swa  J)icce  on  selce  healfe  hwylce''  iles  byrsta  .  428 

and  for-leton  hine  swA  licgan  for  deadne  . 

pa  com  sum  wudewe  ^  .  pe  wses  anes  martyres  I4f  . 

on  )53ere  ylcan  nihte  .  bser  he  Iseg  forwundod '  , 

wolde  his  lie  bebyrigan  "^  .  and  gemette  hine  libbendne"  .      433 

heo  Isedde  hine  pa  to  hire  huse  cucenne  . 

and  binnan  feawnm  dagum  .  hine  fullice  ge-hselde. 

pa  coman  '^  ]?a  cristenan  .  and  Sone  cempan  tihton 

pcet  he  faran  sceolde  feor  fram  Ssere  byrig  .  436 

Ac  sebastianMs  ge-bsed  hine  to  gode  . 

astdh  pa^^  up  to  )38ere  staegre  .  pe  stod  wiS  }78es  caseres  botl  . 

and  pa  'Sa  se  casere  com  clypode  him  J).us  to  . 

Eowre  hseSen-gyldan  pe  healdaS  eowre  templa  ^*  .  440 

cwySajJ  ^®  fela  leasunga  eow  be  pava  cristenan  ^^  . 

secgaS  pcet  hi  syndon  swutol-lice  wiJ'erwinnan  . 

eowruw  cyne-dome  .  and  eac  eowi'um  folce  . 

ac  eower  kynedom  godaS  Jjuvh  heora  godan  ge-earnunga  .       444 

forj^an "  pe  hi  gebiddaS  .  for  romaniscre  ^^  leode  . 

and  for  eowrum  anwealde  .  unablinnendlice  '®  . 

pa  beseah  dioclitianws  se  deofollica  cwellere 

*  Leaf  36,  back.             ^  C.  eardigend.             *  C.  don.  *  C.  fsestnigan. 

'  C.  fsestnodon.                ^  C.  hfndon.               ''  C.  swylce.  *  C.  weoduwe. 

»  C.  for  wtindon.            '«  C.  bebyrgan.            i'  C.  lybbende.  '^  C.  comon. 

"  C,  om.         "  C.  tempi,          '^  C.  cy))aS.         "  C.  cristenum.  "  C.  forjjam. 
^'  C.  rdmware.            "  C.  ana  blinnendlice  (sic). 


V.  SAINT  SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  145 

I  pray  to  the  God  who  dwelleth  ever 

in  the  heavens  in  excellent  glory. 

He  is  mad  who  asketh  of  blind  stones 

any  assistance  amidst  his  dangers.'  420 

Then  became  Diocletian  fiendishly  angry, 

and  commanded  him  to  be  led  out,  in  hard  bonds, 

into  a  field,  and  there  to  be  bound, 

and  assailed  with  arrows  until  he  gave  up  his  life.  424 

Then  the  soldiers  led  away  the  servant  of  Christ, 

and  set  him  for  a  mark,  even  as  the  wicked  man  commanded, 

and  fastened  their  arrows  into  him  before  and  behind, 

as  thickly  on  every  side  as  a  hedgehog's  bristles,  428 

and  so  left  him  alone,  lying  for  dead. 

Then  came  a  certain  widow,  who  was  a  martyr's  relict, 

in  the  same  night,  where  he  lay  sorely  wounded, 

desiring  to  bury  his  body,  and  found  him  living.  432 

Then  she  brought  him  to  her  house  alive, 

and  within  a  few  days  entirely  healed  him. 

Then  came  the  Christians,  and  urged  the  [Christian]  warrior, 

that  he  ought  to  depart  far  away  from  the  city.  436 

But  Sebastian  commended  himself  to  God, 

and  went  up  to  the  staircase,  which  stood  against  the  emperor's 

palace, 
and  when  the  emperor  came,  thus  cried  to  him ; 
'  Your  idol-priests  who  dwell  in  your  temples  440 

tell  you  many  lies  concerning  the  Christians, 
saying  that  they  are  verily  adversaries 
to  your  kingdom,  and  also  to  your  people; 

but  your  kingdom  prospereth  through  their  good  merits,         444 
because  they  pray  for  the  Roman  people 
and  for  your  dominion,  without  ceasing.' 
Then  looked  Diocletian,  the  fiendish  murderer, 

10 


146  V.   PASSIO   SANCTI   SEBASTIANI   MARTYRIS. 

to  tSam  halgan  were  .  pe  tSaer  swa  heage  stod  .  448 

and  cwsetJ  orgsellice  ^  .  ne  eart  pn  Id  sebastianMS  . 

bone  tSe  ic  gefyrn  li6t  mid  flanum  acwellan  . 

Sebastianws  cwseS  .  crist  me  arserde  seft^. 

to  J?i  pcBt  ic  cytSe  eow  .  setforan  ealluwi  folce  .  452 

eower  unriht-wisan  ehtnysse  ofer  Sa  cristenan  . 

pa  h^t  se  casere  |?one  godes  cempan 

^  mid  Baglum  *  ofbeatan  .  binnan  his  agenre  byrig  . 

pa  dydon  pa,  cwelleras  swa  swa^  se  casere  h6t*'  .  456 

and  on  niht  behyddon  his  halgan  lichaman 

on  anuwi  adel-sea^e  .  secgende  him  betwynan  . 

pcet  huru  6a  cristenan  ne  becuman  "^  to  his  lice  . 

and  him  *  to  ^  martyre  macion  ^°  siScSan  .  460 

pa  seteowde  sebastianus  on  swsefne  ^^  anre  wudewan  ^^  . 

lucina "  geciged  .  switSe  sewfsest  ^*  man  ^^  . 

and  ssede  hwser  his  lichama  Iseg  "  .  on  ]?am  adelan  . 

h^t"  hi  faran  to  .  and  hine  ferian  ]?anon^^  .  464 

to  catacumbas  .  Jsser  cristes  apostolas  . 

PETRVS  and  pavlvs  serest  bebyrgede  ^^  wseron  . 

and  lecgan  ^'^  his  lie  .  set  heora  fot-lsestum  . 

Lucina  ]?a  ferde  to  t5am  fore-seadan  ^^  seacSe  .  468 

on  middere  nihte  mid  hire  mannum  ^^  . 

and  his  lic^^  funde  .  and  ferede  mid  wur'S-mynte 

to  |jgere  ylcan  stowe  .  pe  he  sylf  bebead  . 

and  mid  geornfulnysse  ^*  hine  ]3ser^^  bebyrigde^^  .  472 

pam  selmihtigan  to  wuldre  .  se  pe  ge-wylt  ^"^  ealle  J^ing  ^®  . 

rixiende  ^^  d  ^°  on  ecnysse  .  eces  wuldres  cyning  . 


^  C.  orgellice.       ^  C.  eft.        '  Leaf  37.        *  C  stanum.        ^  C.  om.  2nd  swa. 

«  C,  hi  het.         •'  C.  V.  beeomon.         «  C.  hine.         »  V.  om.  *»  C.  V.  macian. 

^^  C.  sw^ne  (sic)  ;  V.  swefhe.     ^^  V.  wuduwan.      ^^  C.  lucla.  ^*  C.  V.  ea wisest. 

"  V.  mann.        "  V.  lag.        "  C.  V.  and  het.        '«  y.  om.  »»  C.  gebyrigde ; 

V.  bebyrgde.       *"  V.  legcan.       ^^  C.  -ssedan.       ^'^  C.  manum.  ^  V.  lichama. 

^*  C.  geornfulnyssum.         ^'^  C.  om.  ])8er.         '^^  V.  bebyrgde.  ^''  C.  gewealt. 
''^  C.  J)incg.            ^  C.  rixigende.            ^o  0.  d  ^.       ' 


v.   SAINT   SEBASTIAN,    MARTYR.  147 

towards  the  holy  man,  who  stood  there  so  loftily,  448 

and  said  haughtily,  '  Art  not  thou  that  Sebastian, 

whom  I  before  commanded  to  be  slain  with  arrows  V 

Sebastian  said,  '  Christ  raised  me  up  again 

to  the  end  that  I  might  declare  to  thee  before  all  the  people     452 

your  unrighteous  persecution  against  the  Christians.' 

Then  bade  the  emperor  that  the  soldier  of  God 

should  be  beaten  to  death  with  clubs  within  his  own  city. 

Then  the  murderers  did  even  as  the  emperor  commanded,      456 

and  by  night  hid  his  holy  corpse 

in  a  foul  sewer,  saying  amongst  themselves, 

that  at  least  the  Christians  should  not  get  at  his  body, 

and  make  him  into  a  martyr  afterwards.  460 

Then  appeared  Sebastian  in  a  dream  to  a  widow, 

named  Lucina,  a  very  pious  person, 

and  told  her  where  his  body  lay  in  the  sewer, 

bade  her  go  thither,  and  bear  him  thence,  464 

even  to  the  (Jktacombs,  where  Christ's  apostles 

Peter  and  Paul  were  first  buried, 

and  lay  his  body  close  at  their  feet. 

Lucina  then  went  to  the  aforesaid  sewer  468 

at  midnight,  together  with  her  servants, 

and  found  his  body,  and  carried  it  reverently 

to  the  very  place  which  he  had  himself  ordered, 

and  with  great  carefulness  there  buried  him,  472 

to  the  glory  of  the  Almighty,  who  ruleth  over  all  things, 

reigning  for  ever,  King  of  eternal  glory. 


10-2 


148  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAUEI,    ABBATIS. 

VI. 

XUIII.  'KAl.ENDAS  Y^BWJARII  NATiL^ 
^ANOTl  MAUEI  ABBATIS. 

[The  other  copy,  in  MS.  Otho  B,  X,  is  burnt.] 

MAUKUS   WJES    GEHATEN   SUM    SWYJ?E    HALIG    abbod  . 
se  wses  to  lare  befsest  sona  fra?n  iugotSe  . 
Jjam  halgan  benedicte  .  j^eah  jje  he  sej^el-boren  wsere  . 
He  jjcah  wel  on  lare  .  and  wses  swiSe  gehyrsum  .  4 

Jjam  halgan  benedicte  .  on  eallum  his  haesum  . 
and  on  eallum  godnyssum  gode  selmihtigon  J)eowde  . 
and  eac  his  gebrotSrum  gode  bysne  sealde  . 

mid  haligre  drohtnunge  .  and  he  for-py  dyre  wses  .  8 

his  lareowe  benedicte  \>q  he  geblissode  mid  weorcum  . 
Hwilon  ser  we  saedon  on  sumere  otSre  stowe 
hu  se  ylca  maurus  .  fjurh  godes  mihte  code 
uppon  yrnendum  wsetere  .  on  anum  widgyllan  pole  .  la 

\)dk  ]3a  benedictus  hine  h^t  gehelpan  |7ses  cnapan  . 
Jje  on  Jjsere  stream  be-feol  .  Jsa  tSa  he  waeter  fette  . 
On  sumne  ssel  code  se  halga  maurus  .  ♦ 

ham  to  mynstre  ^  weard  mid  his  gebrotSrum  .  16 

and  benedictus  wses  Jja  mid  anum  sewfaestum  were  . 
forj^an  J?e  his  wif  wses  mid  wodnysse  gedreht  . 
and  maurus  tSa  gemette  ser  he  to  mynstre  come  . 
senne  dumbne  cnapan  .  and  se  wses  creopere  eac  .  20 

ac  se  fseder  .  and  seo  modor  .  hine  feredon  f)ider  . 
Hi  feoUon  tSa  butu  .  mid  flowendum  tearum 
to  maures  fotum  .  and  befengon  his  cneowa  . 
halsigende  J?urh  godes  naman  .  \)cet  he  gehselde  heora  cild  .         24 
pa  nolde  maurus  Sam  mannum  Jjses  ticSian  . 
cwsetS  \)cet  seo  dsed  naere  him  gedafenlic  . 
otS]3ce<  }3a  gebrotSra  bsedon  hine  georne  . 

\)oet  h6  }jam  healtan  cnapan  .  his  hsele  absede  .  28 

Hwset  Jja  maurus  sona  .  beseah  to  heofonum  and  cwoej)  . 

*  Leaf  37,  back. 


VI.    SAINT  MAUR,    ABBOT.  149 

VI. 

JANUARY  15.    ST.  MAUR,  ABBOT. 

There  was  a  very  holy  abbot  named  Maurus; 

who  from  his  early  youth  was  confided 

to  Saint  Benedict  for  instruction,  though  he  was  of  noble  birth. 

He  throve  well  in  learning,  and  was  very  obedient  4 

to  Saint  Benedict  in  all  his  commands, 

and  served  God  Almighty  in  all  goodness, 

and  gave  moreover  a  good  example  to  his  brethren 

in  all  holy  observances,  and  therefore  was  he  dear  8 

to  his  master  Benedict,  whom  he  rejoiced  by  his  works. 

"We  have  said  aforetime  in  another  place  ^, 

how  this  same  Maurus,  through  God's  might,  walked 

upon  running  water  on  a  wide  pool,  la 

when  Benedict  bade  him  help  the  boy, 

who  had  fallen  into  the  stream,  as  he  was  fetching  water. 

On  a  certain  occasion  Saint  Maurus  was  going 
homewards  to  the  monasteiy  with  his  brethren,  16 

while  Benedict  was  with  a  pious  man, 
because  his  wife  was  vexed  with  madness ; 
and  Maurus  met  there,  before  he  came  to  the  monastery, 
a  dumb  boy,  who  was  also  a  cripple,  20 

but  the  father  and  mother  carried  him  thither. 
Then  they  both  fell  with  flowing  tears 
at  Maurus'  feet,  and  embraced  his  knees, 

entreating  him  in  God's  name  to  heal  their  child.  24 

But  Maurus  did  not  wish  to  grant  this  to  the  couple ; 
and  said  that  the  deed  was  not  becoming  to  him, 
until  the  brethren  earnestly  besought  him 

to  pray  for  the  healing  of  the  halting  boy.  28 

So  then  Maurus  looked  up  straightway  to  Heaven,  and  said, 

*  Viz.  in  ^Ifric's  Homilies,  ed.  Thorpe,  ii.  160. 


150  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI   MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

pu  ure  hselend  crist  .  ]?e  behete  J?inum  discipulum  . 

Sots  ic  eow  ssecge  .  swa  hwset  swa  ge  bidda'S  . 

eow  biS  ge-tyt5od  untwylice  tSses  .  32 

gif  ge  gelyfa'S  .  ])cet  ge  ])&,  lac  under-fon  . 

set-eowa  nu  on  us  aelmihtig  drihten  . 

\)cet  w6  J)ine  Jjeowan  synd  .  peah.  'Se  we  synfulla  synd  . 

and  we  pone  ylcan  geleafan  mid  lufe  healda'S  .  36 

^fter  ]?isuw  wordum  he  cwsetS  to  tSam  wanhalan  . 

On  J)sere  halgan  cSrynnysse  naman  .  beo  pn  hal  cnapa  . 

and  stand  on  Jjinum  fotum  setforan  us  gesund  . 

mid  mines  lareowes  ge-eamungum  .  eac  swylce  gefulturaod      40 

pa  aras  se  cnapa  .  and  up  rihte  eode  . 

and  mid  blitSre  stemne  .  bletsode  his  drihten  . 

pe  bine  gehselde  .  ]?urh  tSone  halgan  wer  . 

Eft  Sa  pa  se  halga  benedictus  .  ham  to  mynstre  com  .  44 

and  pcet  wif  weartS  gewittig  .  J^e  he  frara  wodnysse  ahredde  . 

Jja  wurtSode  h6  maurum  .  for  ]7am  mserlicum  tacne  . 

pe  he  on  tSaere  hwile  gefremede  .  ]>e  h6  on  fyrlenum  wses  . 

Maurus  wses  eac  oftost  mid  ]?am  eadigan  benedicte  .  48 

and  his  wundra  wiste  .  and  mid  him  worhte  wundra  . 

sume  jjsera  we  secgatS  h6r  .  sume  we  forsuwiatS  . 

and  he  wses  fyrmest  muneca  .  to  tSara  mseran  benedicte  . 

and  Jjaes  mynstres  ^  geweold  swd  swd  him  gewissode  benedictus  .  52 

On  tSam  timan  asende  sum  ge-sselig  biscop  . 

of  francena  rice  .  to  ?Sam  halgan  fjeder 

msenigfealde  Mc  .  and  bine  micclum  bsed  . 

pcet  he  him  sendan  sceolde  .  gif  him  swa  ge-)3uht  wssre  .         56 

sume  eawfseste  munecas  .  pe  him  mynster-lif  astealdon  . 

for  tSan  pe  he  wolde  arseran  on  his  biscop-rice  . 

munuclicne  regol  .  be  benedictes  raede  . 

Hwset  tJa  benedictws  .  be  his  gebrotSra  rgede  .  60 

swd  swa  him  god  geswutolode  .  asende  pa,  maurum  . 

^  Leaf  38. 


VI.    SAINT   MAUR,    ABBOT.  151 

'  Thou,  our  Saviour  Christ,  who  didst  promise  unto  Thy  disciples, 

"Yerily  I  say  unto  you,  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 

shall  certainly  be  granted  you  on  this  (condition),  3a 

that  ye  believe  that  ye  receive  the  gifts," 

show  forth  now  in  us,  Almighty  Lord, 

that  we  are  Thy  servants,  though  we  are  sinful, 

and  we  will  keep  the  same  faith  with  (true)  love.'  36 

After  these  words  he  said  to  the  diseased, 

'In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  be  thou  whole,  boy, 

and  stand  on  thy  feet  sound  before  us, 

assisted  also  by  my  master's  merits.'  40 

Then  arose  the  boy,  and  walked  upright, 

and  with  blithe  voice  blessed  his  Lord,  ' 

who  had  healed  him  through  the  holy  man. 

Then,  after  Saint  Benedict  had  come  home  to  the  monastery,  44 

(and  the  woman  had  become  sane,  whom  he  had  delivered  from 

madness,) 
he  did  honour  to  Maurus  for  the  glorious  miracle 
which  he  in  the  meanwhile  had  wrought,  when  he  [Benedict]  was 

far  off. 
Maurus  was  moreover  oftenest  about  the  blessed  Benedict,       48 
and  knew  his  miracles,  and  worked  miracles  with  him; 
some  of  these  we  will  tell  here,  some  we  will  pass  over; 
and  he  was  the  principal  monk  next  to  the  great  Benedict, 
and  governed  the  monastery  as  Benedict  shewed  him.  52 

At  that  time  a  certain  blessed  bishop 
from  the  kingdom  of  the  Franks  ^  sent  to  the  holy  patriarch 
manifold  presents,  and  besought  him  much, 
to  send  him,  if  it  seemed  well  to  him,  56 

some  pious  monks  who  should  found  monasteries  for  him, 
because  he  desired  to  establish  in  his  bishopric 
the  monastic  rule  according  to  Benedict's  design. 
Then  Benedict,  by  his  brethren's  counsel,  60 

as  God  revealed  to  them,  sent  Maurus 

1  Innocent,  bishop  of  Mans. 


153  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

Jjeah  tSe  he  unea'Se  mihte  for  heora  micclum  lufe  . 

hine  him  fram  Isetan  to  'Sam  fyrlenan  lande  . 

He  funde  him  6dc  geferan  feower  oSre  munecas  .  64 

and  sume  Isewede  menn  to  ?Sam  lande  mid  him  . 

and  nam  jjone  halgan  regol  .  ]>e  he  mid  his  handum  awrat  . 

and  betsehte  maure  mid  him  to  hsebbenne  . 

and  heora  hlafes  gewiht  .  and  heora  wines  gemett  .  68 

and  asende  hi  mid  bletsunga  to  Sam  fore-ssedan  bisceope  . 

Eft  on  aerne  mergen  .  sende  se  arwurSa  benedictus  . 

twsegen  his  muneca  to  maure  mid  lacum  . 

]>cet  is  mid  halig-dome  .  of  pses  haelendes  rode  .  73 

and  of  marian  reafe  .  and  of  michaheles  pelle  . 

and  of  stephanes  lichaman  .  and  of  martines  reliquium  . 

and  an  aerend-gewrit  mid  Jjysum  wordum  fortS  . 

Onfoh  min  leofesta  .  ]?as  ende-nehstan  Uc  .  76 

]?ines  lareowes  .  to  langum  gemynde  . 

and  eow  to  gescyldnysse  witS  deofles  syrwunga  . 

Ic  ssecge  tSe  to  sotSan  .  pcet  pn  scealt  gewitan  . 

on  tJam  sixteotSan  geare  ptes  cSe  J?u  munuc  wurde  80 

of  Jjisserae  worulde  .  to  wuldre  mid  gode 

Bwk  swd  crist  gyrstan-dseg  me  cydde  .  he  pe  . 

si?St5an  pu  fram  us  si(Sodest  .  on  fare  . 

Ic  secge  pe  eac  nu  .  pcet  eovver  sitS  84 

ne  bits  na  swd  .  swd  swa  we  wendon  . 

ac  wyrt5  elles  gefadod  .  and  on  oSre  stowe  . 

ac  se  selmihtiga  god  eow  nsefre  ne  for-laet  . 

^  oS  pcet  [ealle]  ^  ge  gelogode  beon  .  88 

FaratS  nu  ge-sunde  .  and  gesselige  becumatS  . 

Maurus  tSa  ferde  mid  mycelre  blisse  . 

and  his  geferan  samod  .  to  francena  rice  . 

ac  twegen  his  geferan  .  feollon  be  wege  .  92 

dn  of  anum  stypele  .  oJ>er  on  anne  stdn  . 

Bwa  pcet  hi  wurdon  to-cwysede  .  and  cwylmiende  lagon  . 

ac  maurus  hi  gehealde  .  on  Jjses  haelendes  naman  . 

*  Leaf  38,  back.  ^  A  slight  space  here. 


VI.    SAINT  MAUR,    ABBOT.  153 

(though  he  hardly  might,  for  their  great  love, 

let  him  go  from  him)  to  the  distant  land. 

He  found  also  four  other  monks  as  companions  for  him,  64 

and  some  laymen,  to  go  with  them  to  that  land, 

and  took  the  holy  rule,  which  he  had  written  with  his  own  hand, 

and  delivered  it  to  Maurus,  to  have  with  him, 

together  with  the  weight  for  their  bread,  and  the  measure  for 

their  wine,  68 

and  sent  them  with  his  blessing  to  the  aforesaid  bishop. 
Afterwards  in  early  morning  the  venerable  Benedict  sent  forth 
twain  of  his  monks  to  Maurus  with  gifts, 

that  is,  with  holy  relics,  of  the  Saviour's  Rood,  72 

and  of  Mary's  garments,  and  of  a  hanging  from  S.  Michael's  Altar  \ 
and  of  Stephen's  body,  and  of  Martin's  relics, 
and  a  written  message  in  these  words ; 

*  Receive,  my  beloved,  these  last  gifts  76 

of  thy  master,  for  a  long  remembrance, 
and  for  a  shield  to  you  against  the  devil's  snares.    "^ 
I  say  to  thee,  in  sooth,  that  thou  shalt  depart, 
in  the  sixteenth  year  since  thou  becamest  a  monk,  80 

out  of  this  world  to  glory  with  God, 
even  as  Christ  yesterday  showed  me  concerning  thee, 
after  thou  wentest  from  us  on  thy  journey. 
I  tell  thee  also  now  that  your  way  84 

shall  not  at  all  be  such  as  we  imagined, 
but  shall  be  ordered  otherwise,  and  in  another  place; 
but  Almighty  God  will  never  forsake  you 

until  ye  [all]  shall  be  established.  88 

Fare  ye  now  well,  and  be  ye  blessed.' 
Then  Maurus  fared  with  great  joy, 

and  his  companions  together,  to  the  kingdom  of  the  Franks ; 
but  twain  of  his  companions  fell  by  the  way,  93 

one  from  off  a  tower,  the  other  on  a  stone, 
so  that  they  were  crushed,  and  lay  dying, 
but  Maurus  healed  them  in  the  name  of  Jesus. 

'  See  the  note. 


154  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

Eac  hi  ge-metton  on  sumuw  mynstre  be  wege  96 

senne  blindne  man  .  se  bsed  his  hsele  georne  . 
set  t5am  halgan  maure  .  and  he  hine  gehselde  jjurh  god  . 
and  h^t  ])(et  he  wunode  butan  worunge ' 

on  godes  Jjeow-dome  .  j^aer  on  mynstre  .  d  .  100 

and  he  swa  dyde  .  eac  siSSan  of  jjam  dsege  . 
Eft  he  gehselde  on  otSre  stowe 
anre  wydewan  sunu  .  pe  unwene  tSd  Iseg  , 

and  gefrefrode  |3a  modor  .  and  men  |?3es  wundrodon  .  104 

and  se  cnapa  arn  sona  to  maure 
hrymende  .  and  ewe'Sende  .  ]?u  ahreddest  mine  sawle 
fram  fyrenum  witum  .  and  he  wearS  munuc  si'S'San  . 
Maurus  geseah  eac  swa  swa  .  him  god  geswutelode  108 

on  ]3am  ylcan  fserelde  .  benedictes  for'S-siS  . 
and  hti  h6  to  heofonum  ferde  .  J?eah  pe  he  on  fyrlene  wsere  . 
Hi  ferdon  J)a  fortS  to  tSam  fore-ssedan  bisceope  . 
pe  hi  ge-langian  het  .  ac  he  ne  leofode  na  ]3a  .  iia 

ac  wses  for  feawum  dagum  fortSfaren  of  life  . 
and  oSer  biscop  geset  on  his  bisceop-stole  . 
Hi  wurdon  ]3a  unrote  .  and  eoden  swa  j^eah 
to  Sam  niwan  bisceope  .  bsedon  his  rsedes  .  n6 

cunnodon  hwsetSer  he  wolde  |?8es  ocSres  willan  gefremman  . 
and  him  munuc-lif  arseran  .  swa  swa  se  otSer  gemynte  . 
He  cwseS  pcet  he  ne  mihte  embe  munuc-lif  pa  smeagen  . 
be  ocSres  bisceopes  dihte  .  ac  wolde  beon  embe  his  ]?incg  .  120 

be  his  agenum  dihte  .  and  ge-dreoh-lsecan  his  hamas  . 
Hi  feordon  pa,  jsanon  fram  ]?sere  scire  bisceope  . 
and  god  hira  foresceawode  on  sumere  otSre  scire 
on  francena  rice  fulgode  wununge  .  124 

Sum  ^  forS-|?egn  wses  6a  welig  .  on  }jam  lande  . 
florus  gehaten  .  and  se  hsefde  gemynt 
mynster  to  arserenne  .  and  mid  munecum  gesettan  . 
gif  he  senige  geaxode  .  pe  sewfseste  wseron  .  128 

forSan  pe  benedictus  hlisa  .  on  pcet  land  becuman  wses  . 
and  him  weartS  eac  gecydd  be  maures  to-cyme  . 

*  Leaf  39. 


VI.    SAINT   MAUR,    ABBOT.  155 

Also  they  found  in  a  monastery  on  the  way  96 

a  blind  man  who  earnestly  besought  his  cure 

from  the  holy  Maurus,  and  he  healed  him  through  God, 

and  bade  that  he  should  abide  without  wandering 

in  God's  service,  there  in  the  monastery,  for  ever;  100 

and  he  did  so  afterwards  from  that  day. 

Again  he  healed  in  another  place 

a  widow's  son,  who  lay  there  unconscious, 

and  comforted  the  mother,  and  men  wondered  thereat,  104 

and  the  boy  ran  straightway  to  Maurus, 

crying  out,  and  saying,  'Thou  hast  delivered  my  soul 

from  the  fiery  torments,'  and  he  afterwards  became  a  monk. 

Maurus  saw  also,  as  God  revealed  to  him,  108 

on  that  same  journey,  Benedict's  departure, 

and  how  he  went  to  Heaven,  though  he  was  far  away. 

Then  they  fared  forth  to  the  aforesaid  bishop, 

who  had  bidden  to  send  for  them,  but  he  was  not  then  living,      112 

but  a  few  days  before  had  departed  from  life, 

and  another  bishop  was  set  in  his  episcopal  chair. 

Then  they  were  sorrowful,  but  went  nevertheless 

to  the  new  bishop,  and  asked  his  counsel,  116 

and  enquired  whether  he  would  fulfil  the  other's  desire, 

and  establish  monasteries  for  himself,  as  the  other  had  intended. 

He  said  that  he  could  not  concern  himself  about  monasteries 

at  another  bishop's  dictation,  but  must  attend  to  his  affairs    120 

according    to    his    own    disposing,   and    make    rules    for  his 

houses. 
Then  they  departed  from  the  bishop  of  that  diocese, 
and  God  provided  them,  in  another  province 
of  the  kingdom  of  the  Franks,  an  excellent  dwelling-place.     124 

There  was  a  wealthy  viscount  in  that  country, 
named  Florus,  and  he  had  been  minded 
to  build  a  monastery  and  to  set  monks  in  it, 
if  he  could  find  out  any  that  were  pious  men,  128 

because  that  Benedict's  fame  had  come  into  that  country, 
and  men  had  also  told  him  of  Maurus'  arrival. 


156  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

Se  Tpegn  wses  wunigende  butan  wifes  neawiste  . 
fortSan  J^e  his  gebedda  gefaren  wses  of  life  .  132 

and  Isefde  him  aenne  sunu  .  \>e  siStSan  wses  munuc 
and  abbod  sefter  maure  .  mserlice  drohtnigende  . 
sw4  swd  J^eos  bdc  segt^  swutelice  h6r  bseftan  . 
Hwset  ]?a  florus  ferde  fgegen  him  to-geanes  .  136 

and  mid  micelre  arwurcSnysse  .  jsa  setSelan  godes  menn  . 
under-feng  to  him  .  and  fore-sceawode  him  wununge  . 
herigende  his  drihten  .  and  tSone  halgum  (sic)  benedictuwi  . 
Se  florus  waes  ?5a  fyrmest  ]3sera  francena  Jjegna  .  140 

and  t5am  cyninge  leofest  .  Tpe  on  Jjaera  leode  rixode  . 
for?5an  J^e  he  wses  sewfest  sefre  fram  his  geogotSe  . 
and  call  )?ses  cyninges  rsed  eode  be  his  dihte  . 
Florus  Sa  cydde  Jsam  cyninge  his  willan  .  144 

and  be  his  leafan  arserde  on  his  agenum  lande 
mynster  .  and  munuc-lif .     Sw4  swd  maurus  him  dihte  . 
and  mid  micelre  are  .  pcet  mynster  gegodode  . 
and  priuilegium  sette  on  swutelre  ge-witnysse  .  148 

and  maure  betsehte  Ipcet  mynster  mid  ealle 
to  fullum  freo-dome  .  for  his  sawle  tSearfe  . 
He  ofifrode  6acc  ]>&  on  ?Sam  ylcan  dege 

his  ancennedan  sunu  .  pam  selmihtigan  gode  152 

to  munuclicere  drohtnunge  under  maures  gyraene  . 
and  cwsetS  Tpcet  he  sylf  wolde  .  gif  hit  god  swa  fore-sceawode 
eall  woruld-tSing  forlsetan  .  and  wunian  on  tSam  mynstre  . 
on  godes  tSeow-dome  .  and  he  hit  eac  swa  gelaeste  .  156 

He  gegaderode  \>a,  swiSe  gode  wyrhtan  gehwanon  , 
and  arserde  Ipcet  mynster  eall  be  maures  rsede  . 
wic?  pa  mycclan  6d  .  pe  menn  hata(5  liger  . 

Hwset  tJa  on  sumum  dsege  .  sseton  him  set-gsedere  .  160 

florus  .  and  maurus  .  to  middan  ^J?am  wyrhtum  . 
and  maurus  rsedde  .  and  rehte  hit  flore  . 
pB,  feol  sum  preost  fserlice  of  J^am  weorce  . 

swd  pcet  h6  samcucu  Iseg  .  sweltendum  gelic  .  164 

and  fleow  eall  blode  .  ac  maurus  hine  h6t  beran 
*  Leaf  39,  back. 


VI.   SAINT   MAUa,   ABBOT;  157 

This  noble  was  living  without  a  wife's  companionship, 

because  his  consort  had  departed  from  life,  13a 

and  left  him  one  son,  who  afterwards  was  a  monk 

and  abbot  after  Maurus,  living  gloriously, 

even  as  this  book  telleth  clearly  hereafter. 

Then  Florus  went  joyfully  to  meet  them,  136 

and  with  great  honour  received  to  himself 

the  noble  men  of  God,  and  provided  for  them  a  dwelling, 

praising  his  Lord,  and  the  holy  Benedict. 

This  Florus  was  then  the  first  of  the  Frankish  nobles,        140 
and  dearest  to  the  king  who  reigned  over  that  people, 
because  he  had  ever  been  pious  from  his  youth, 
and  all  the  king's  counsel  went  by  his  advice. 
Then  Florus  made  known  his  desire  to  the  king,  144 

and,  with  his  leave,  established,  in  his  own  land, 
a  monastery  and  monastic  discipline,  as  Maurus  directed  him, 
and  with  great  favour  he  benefited  the  monastery, 
and  assigned  privileges  to  it  in  clear  testimony  [thereof],        148 
and  altogether  made  over  the  monastery  to  Maurus 
with  full  liberty,  for  his  soul's  profit. 
He  ofiered  also  then  on  the  same  day, 

his  only  son  to  Almighty  God  152 

for  the  monastic  life  under  the  care  of  Maurus, 
saying  that  he  himself  desired,  if  God  so  ordained, 
to  forsake  all  worldly  things,  and  dwell  in  the  monastery, 
in  God's  service,  and  he  even  so  fulfilled  it.  156 

Then  he  gathered  very  good  workmen  from  all  quarters, 
and  built  the  monastery  entirely  by  Maurus'  direction, 
near  the  great  river  that  men  call  the  Liger  [Loire]. 
Then  on  a  certain  day  were  sitting  together  i6o 

Florus  and  Maurus  in  the  midst  of  the  workmen, 
and  Maurus  was  reading,  and  relating  it  to  Florus. 
Then  suddenly  a  priest  fell  off  the  work, 

so  that  he  lay  half  alive,  as  if  dying,  164 

and  all  flowing  with  blood,  but  Maurus  bade  them  bear  him 


158  VI.    NATALE   SANCTI   MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

to  martines  cyrcan  .  and  maurus  inn  eode  . 
and  bsed  tSone  selmihtigan  for  his  arfsestnysse  . 
pcet  h.6  J?am.  preoste  gemiltsode  .  and  hine  mihtelice  gehselde  .  i68 
He  ards  Jja  eftsona  .  and  eode  to  tSam  preoste  . 
and  his  wunda  bletsode  and  cwsetS  him  baldlice  to  . 
On  'Sees  scyppendes  naman  .  J>e  ge-sceop  mann  of  eortJan  . 
aris  pu.  gesund  .  and  ardlice  gang  172 

to  tSinum  weall-geweorce  and  hit  w61  ge-enda  ^  . 
H6  ards  ]?a  gesund  .  swylce  of  slsepe  awreht 
and  began  to  wundrigenne  hu  he  wurde  Sider  gebroht  . 
pa  cwsetS  se  halga  wer  .  ne  wurde  ?Su  hider  geferod  176 

on  J)inum  agenum  fotum  .  ac  tSe  feredon  o]?re  . 
ac  gang  nu  ardlice  eft  to  f)inum  weorce  . 
j^elses  \)e  hit  beo  gelet  to  lange  J^urh  Se  . 

Da  eode  se  preost  .  eft  to  his  weorce  .  180 

and  florus  hine  astrehte  to  maures  fotum  .  and  cwse'S  . 
pu  eart  soSlice  maure  .  J^ses  mseran  benedictes 
folgere  on  wundrum  .  be  Sam  we  for  wel  oft  gehyrdon 
)?yllice  gereccan  .  and  he  j^earle  si(5San  184 

maurum  wurSode  .  and  on  wundrunge  hsefde  . 
^fter  Jjj'sum  ongunnon  .  of  tSam  gegader-wyrhtum  . 
tselan  tSone  halgan  .  ]?e  gehselde  fjone  preost  . 
cwsedon  pcet  he  mid  galdrum  .  na  mid  godes  crseftum  188 

jjyllice  gewoi'hte  .  and  wolde  beon  furSor  . 
on  otSrum  earde  .  Iponne  he  on  his  agenum  waere  . 
swySor  for  gitsunge  .  Sonne  for  sewfaestnysse  . 
Ac  Sa  J?a  hi  swij^ost  tasldon  .  ]?one  soSfsestan  maurum  ,  192 

f»a  wurdon  afyllede  .  mid  Sam  fulan  gaste  . 
pYj  Jjsera  wyrhtena  .  and  hi  weddon  Jjearle  . 
swa  Tpcet  hyra  dn  .  ge-endode  sona  . 

and  ]?a  oSre  twegen  to-taeron  hi  sylfe  .  196 

mid  heora  agenum  toSum  .  and  eges-lice  grymetedon  . 
Maurus  ]?a  sona  mycclum  wearS  astyred  . 
and  wepende  eode  into  jjaera  cyrcan  . 

^  and  mid  mycelre  onbryrd-nyssfe  bged  Tpone  selmihtigan  .  200 

^  MS.  ge-ende,  alt.  to  ge-enda.  *  Leaf  40, 


VI.    SAINT   MAUR,   ABBOT.  159 

to  Saint  Martin's  church,  and  Maurus  went  in, 
and  prayed  the  Almighty,  of  His  clemency, 
that  He  would  have  mercy  on  the  priest,  and  mightily  heal  him.     168 
He  arose  then  straightway,  and  went  up  to  the  priest, 
and  made   the  sign  of  the  cross  on  his  wounds,   and  said  to 
him  boldly, 

*  In  the  Creator's  name  who  created  man  out  of  the  earth, 
arise  thou  sound,  and  go  out  quickly,  173 
to  thy  wall-building,  and  finish  it  well.' 

He  arose  then  sound,  as  if  aroused  from  sleep, 

and  began  to  wonder  how  he  had  been  brought  thither. 

Then  said  the  holy  man,  'Thou  wast  not  borne  hither  176 

on  thine  own  feet,  but  others  bare  thee; 

but  now  go  back  quickly  to  thy  work, 

lest  it  be  hindered  too  long  through  thee.' 

Then  went  the  priest  back  to  his  work,  180 

and  Florus  prostrated  himself  at  the  feet  of  Maurus,  and  said, 

*  Verily  thou,  Maurus,  art  the  great  Benedict's  successor 
in  miracles,  of  whom  we  very  often  have  heard 

tell  the  like,'  and  he  thereafter  exceedingly  184 

honoured  Maurus,  and  had  him  in  admiration. 

After  this  began  some  of  the  assembled  workmen 

to  accuse  the  saint  who  had  healed  the  priest, 

saying,  that  he,  by  enchantments,  not  by  God's  power,  188 

had  wrought  this,  and  desired  to  be  greater 

in  another  country,  than  he  had  been  in  his  own, 

rather  for  covetousness  than  for  piety. 

But  while  they  were  most  fiercely  blaming  the  upright  Maurus,  192 

then  were  filled  with  the  evil  spirit 

three  of  the  workmen,  and  they  became  exceedingly  mad, 

so  that  one  of  them  died  immediately, 

and  the  other  twain  tare  themselves  severely  196 

with  their  own  teeth,  and  roared  fearfully. 

Then  straightway  Maurus  was  greatly  troubled, 

and  weeping,  went  into  the  church, 

and  with  great  agitation  besought  the  Almighty,  200 


160  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAUEI,    ABBATIS. 

tSset  he  )3am  deadan  .  and  ]?am  deofol-seocum 
gemiltsian  sceolde  .  and  heora  sawle  gehelpan  . 
He  eode  Jja  eft  ut  to  )3am  earmum  wodum  . 
and  on  drihtnes  naman  .  ]>&  deoflu  afligde  ,  204 

of  Sam  wodum  wyrhtum  .  and  hi  wurdon  gehselede  . 
He  h6t  eac  beran  into  his  gebaed-huse  . 
Jjses  fortS-farenan  lie  .  pe  se  feond  acwealde  . 
and  wacode  ealle  J?a  niht  ofer  t5ses  wodan  lie  .  208 

and  h6t  )?ses  on  mergen  .  maessian  for  his  sawle  . 
and  araerde  jjone  deadan  }?urh  drihtnes  mihte  . 
and  h6t  hine  wai*nian  .  gif  he  wolde  libban  . 
pcet  he  nsere  on  tSam  mynstre  .  naefre  eft  gesewen  .  212 

of  tSam  and-weardan  daege  j^e  he  of  deaSe  aras  . 
pa  weartS  ge-endod  eall  J^ses  mynstres  weorc  binnan  eahte  gearum  . 
and  eac  gehalgod  .  mid  healicum  wur?5mynte  . 
Hwset  tSa  florus  gemunde  hwset  he  gemynte  set  fruman  .         216 
and  hwget  h6  gode  beh6t  .  J^a  tJa  he  began  pcet  mynster  . 
and  bsed  him  jja  leafe  .  set  his  kyne-hlaforde  . 
\)cet  h6  moste  gecyrran  .  fram  pa,m  swicolum  welum  . 
and  wunian  on  tSam  mynstre  Jse  he  ge-worht  hsefde  .  220 

and  be  maures  dihte  adreogan  his  lif  . 
and  on  godes  ]3eow-dome  gastlice  libban  . 
and  swd  ge-earnian  .  ?Sa  6can  myrhjje  . 

Se  cyning  tSa  ge]jafode  .  J?am  )?egne  his  willan  .  224 

|?eah  J?e  he  uneatSe  mihte  .  on  his  mode  findan  . 
\>cet  he  swa  leofne  freond  frar?!  him  Isetan  sceolde  . 
and  cwsetS  Ipcet  he  sylf  wolde  geseon  tSa  stowe  . 
and  Jjser  andwerd  beon  ]3onne  he  his  beard  alede  .  228 

JEiter  'Sysum  ferde  florus  to  tSam  mynstre  . 
and  his  kyne-hlaford  com  swa  swa  hi  cwsedon  . 
and  bsed  poet  he  moste  beon  heora  broSor  for  gode  . 
and  forgeaf  sumne  ham  to  l^sere  halgan  stowe  .  232 

and  mildelice  sprsec  .  to  eallum  Sam  munecum  . 
swiSost  swa  pesih.  synderlice  to  maure  . 
and  beh^t  pcet  h6  wolde  him  hold  beon  '  eallum  . 
^  Leaf  40,  back. 


VI.   SAINT   MAUR,    ABBOT.  161 

that  He  would  have  mercy  on  the  dead 
and  the  possessed  with  devils,  and  help  their  souls. 
Then  he  went  out  again  to  the  miserable  madmen, 
and  in  the  Lord's  name  put  the  devils  to  flight  204 

out  of  the  possessed  workmen,  and  they  were  healed. 
Then  he  commanded  to  bear  into  his  oratory 
the  corpse  of  the  departed  that  the  fiend  had  killed, 
and  kept  the  vigil  all  night  by  the  madman's  corpse,  208 

and  bade  that  in  the  morning  mass  should  be  said  for  his  soul, 
and  raised  the  dead  man  through  the  Lord's  might, 
and  gave  orders  to  warn  him,  if  he  wished  to  live, 
that  he  should  never  be  seen  in  the  monastery  again  212 

after  the  present  day  whereon  he  arose  from  the  dead. 
So  all  the  work  of  the  monastery  was  ended  within  eight  years, 
and  also  hallowed  with  high  solemnity. 

Then  Florus  remembered  what  he  had  at  first  intended,         216 
and  what  he  had  vowed  to  God  when  he  began  the  monastery, 
and  besought  leave  for  himself  from  his  royal  master, 
that  he  might  turn  from  the  deceitful  riches, 
and  dwell  in  the  monastery  which  he  had  wrought,  220 

and  spend  his  life  according  to  Maurus'  direction, 
and  live  holily  in  God's  service, 
and  so  merit  the  bliss  eternal. 

So  the  king  granted  the  thane  his  wish,  224 

though  he  could  hardly  find  it  in  his  mind 
to  let  so  dear  a  friend  go  from  him, 
and  said,  that  he  himself  desired  to  see  the  place, 
and  to  be  present  there  when  he  laid  aside  his  beard  [received 
the  tonsure].  228 

After  these  things,  Florus  went  to  the  monastery, 
and  his  royal  master  came  even  as  they  had  said, 
and  prayed  that  he  might  be  their  brother  for  [the  love  of]  God, 
and  gave  certain  property  to  the  holy  place,  232 

and  spake  affably  to  all  the  monks, 
but  especially,  however,  to  Maurus  in  particular, 
and  promised  that  he  would  be  friendly  to  them  all ; 

11 


163  VI.   NATALE  SANCTI   MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

and  bser  him  sylf  his  Mc  .  and  lede  uppon  Ipcet  weofod  .         236 

Florus  h^t  Sa  fortS-bseran  his  fsegeran  matSmas 

on  golde  and  on  seolfre  .  and  hi  gode  geoffrode  . 

and  his  menn  gefreode  .  setforan  tSam  weofode  . 

and  awearp  his  wsepna  .  and  weartS  Jja  bescoren  .  240 

setforan  Jjam  cyninge  ,  to  cristes  Jjeow-dome  . 

and  se  cyning  blyssode  .  and  blytSe  weartS  on  mode  . 

for  Sees  J?egnes  gecyrrednysse  .  and  sotSum  geleafan  . 

Eft  sefter  gereorde  .  h6t  se  setSela  cyning  244 

]>oet  floras  hine  gesprsece  .  ser  Jjan  pe  h6  Jsanon  ferde  . 

and  h6  com  Jia  sona  mid  sumum  otSrum  munecum 

on  munuc-wisan  gescryd  .  ]3a  weop  se  cyning  . 

and  Jjancode  gode  his  godan  wyllan  .  248 

and  tihte  hine  georne  Ipcet  h6  geornful  wsere  . 

on  ]3am  gastlican  life  and  on  godes  J)eow-dome  . 

swa  swa  h6  on  woruld-j^ingum  wislice  ser  leofode  . 

and  se  cyning  gytStSan  sitSode  J^anon  .  252 

Eft  Jjses  on  msergen  rdd  maurus  to  Jjam  lande  . 

f)e  se  cyning  him  geaf  .  and  his  cepte  sum  beddryda  . 

s6  Iseg  seofon  gear  to-slopenum  limum  . 

and  wses  jjyder  geboren  to  biddenne  his  hsele  .  256 

pa  bletsode  maurus  .  J)one  beddrydan  mann  . 

and  h6  sona  gesund  sylf  upp  ards  . 

swa  tSaet  hit  uses  ge-sene  hwetSer  he  eeoc  wsere  . 

pa  bugon  gehwylce  setSelborenne  menn  .  260 

to  maures  mynstre  .  to  munuc-licere  drohtnunge  . 

Sume  eac  befsestan  heora  suna  him  . 

to  godes  ]3eow-dome  .  d^pcet  peer  gadorod  wses 

hund-teontig  muneca  .  and  feowertig  ealles  .  264 

pa  ge-cwsetS  se  abbod  .  and  ealle  pa.  gebrotSra  . 

pcet  J?er  ne  mihte  na  md  muneca  wunian  . 

pe  Ises  pe  Sam  gebrotSrum  bigleofan  ateorode  . 

ac  wsere  pcet  get61  .  wunigende  sefre  .  268 

ne  lae's  ne  mi  ,  on  ]?am  munuc-lffe  . 


VI.   SAINT   MAUR,    ABBOT.  163 

and  himself  bare  his  offering,  and  laid  it  upon  the  altar.        236 

Then  Floras  bade  men  bring  forth  his  fair  treasures 

in  gold  and  silver,  and  he  offered  them  to  God, 

and  freed  his  serfs  before  the  altar, 

and  threw  away  his  weapons,  and  was  there  shorn  240 

in  the  presence  of  the  king,  for  the  service  of  Christ ; 

and  the  king  rejoiced,  and  was  blithe  in  mood 

for  the  thane's  conversion  and  true  faith. 

Again,  after  the  feast,  the  noble  king  bade  244 

that  Floras  should  speak  with  him,  ere  he  went  thence, 

and  he  came  immediately  with  some  other  monks, 

clad  in  monkish-wise.     Then  the  king  wept, 

and  thanked  God  for  his  good  will,  248 

and  earnestly  exhorted  him  to  be  zealous 

in  the  spiritual  life,  and  in  God's  service, 

as  he  had  before  lived  prudently  in  the  things  of  the  world; 

and  the  king  afterwards  journeyed  thence.  252 

After  this,  in  the  morning,  rode  Maurus  to  the  estate, 

which  the  king  had  given  him,  and  a  bed-ridden  man  sought 

him, 
who  had  lain  seven  year  with  relaxed  limbs, 
and  was  borne  thither  to  pray  for  his  healing.  256 

Then  Maurus  blessed  [signed]  the  bedridden  man, 
and  he  immediately  rose  up  by  himself  sound, 
so  that  it  could  not  be  perceived  that  he  had  been  sick. 
Then  all  the  nobly-born  men  devoted  themselves  260 

to  the  monastic  work  in  Maurus'  monastery ; 
some  also  committed  their  sons  to  him 
for  God's  service,  until  there  were  gathered  together 
one  hundred  and  forty  monks  in  all.  264 

Then  said  the  abbot  and  all  the  brothers, 
that  no  more  monks  could  dwell  there, 
lest  victuals  should  fail  the  brothers, 

but  that  the  tale  (of  140^)  should  always  continue,  268 

neither  less  nor  more,  in  the  monastic  life. 

1  See  264,  lines  348,  353. 

11-2 


164  VI.  NATALE    SANCTI   MAUEI,    ABBATIS. 

Hit  gelamp  ?5a  siSSan  .  pcet  se  gesseliga  florus 
gewdt  of  worulde  .  wuldor-ful  to  criste  . 

on  'Sam  JjrytteoSan  geare  .  sefter  j^am  IpQ  he  muuuc  ^  wses  .      272 
Sum  erce-diacon  com  eac  hwilum 
to  maure  .  pa.  nsefdon  hi  n4n  win 
buton  on  dnum  gewealdenan  butruce  . 

and  maurus  pa.  bletsode  blitSelice  pcet  win  .  276 

cwseS  pcet  god  mihte  gemycclian  ]?one  weetan  . 
se  tSe  iu  on  westene  wseter  ut-teah  . 
of  heardum  stan-clude  .  and  of  heofonum  asende  , 
his  folce  big-leofan  .  feowertig  geara  .  280 

Hi  druncon  Sa  pcet  win  .  wel  hiind-seofontig  manna  . 
and  sefre  wees  se  buteruc  brerd-ful  wines  . 
Maurus  gemette  senne  man  eft  . 

Be  wses  yfele  ge-tawod  .  and  hine  set  se  cancor  .  284 

and  his  weleres  wseron  awlsette  mid  ealle  . 
and  eac  his  nosu  .  for-numen  mid  attre  . 
J)a  bletsode  maurus  Jjone  mann  feorran  . 

and  he  sona  wearS  wundorlice  gehseled  .  288 

SiStSan  nolde  maurus  of  Sam  mynstre  faran  . 
for  nanre  neode  .  butan  he  nyde  sceolde  . 
forSan  pe  he  wiste  hwset  him  gewitegod  wses  . 
tSurh  Bancte  benedicte  .  Sa  J?a  h6  siSode  him  frdm  .  292 

pcet  he  sceolde  gewitan  of  worulde  to  gode 
on  Sam  feower-teoSan  geare  .  J>ses  j^e  h6  ferde  fram  him  . 
and  wunode  pk  on  sundrum  .  and  sette  )?am  gebroSrum  . 
o})erne  abbod  .  be  heora  ealra  rsede  .  296 

tSses  ylcan  flores  sunu  .  pe  w6  ser  fore-ssedan  , 
He  weartS  }?a  ge-bysgod  on  his  ge-bedum  J^earle 
on  martines  cyrcan  mid  his  twam  munecum  . 
to  Sriddan  healfan  geare  mid  ealre  georufulnysse  .  300 

and  mid  gastlicre  gewilnunge  .  godes  miltsunge  bsed  . 
pa  on  sumere  nihte  .  ge-seah  he  )?one  deofol  . 
pi  pA  \x6  wolde  gdn  Into  godes  cyrcan  . 

Se  feond  hsefde  him  mid  fela  oSre  sceoccan  .  304 

^  Leaf  41. 


VI.    SAINT   MAUR,   ABBOT.  165 

It  befell  thereafter,  that  the  blessed  Florus 

departed  from  the  world,  full  of  glory,  to  Christ, 

in  the  thirteenth  year  after  he  became  a  monk.  272 

Also  a  certain  archdeacon  came  once  upon  a  time 
to  Maurus,  and  then  they  had  no  wine 
except  in  one  large-sized  bottle. 

Then  Maurus  blithely  blessed  the  wine,  276 

and  said,  that  God  could  increase  the  drink, 
He  who  of  old  in  the  wilderness  drew  out  water 
from  the  hard  stone-cliff,  and  sent  from  Heaven 
food  for  his  people  for  forty  years.  280 

Then  verily  they  drank  of  that  wine,  full  seventy  men, 
and  the  bottle  was  ever  after  brimful  of  wine. 
Again  Maurus  found  a  man 

who  was  evilly  stricken,  and  a  cancer  was  eating  him,  284 

and  his  lips  were  rendered  loathsome  thereby, 
and  likewise  his  nose  destroyed  by  the  poison; 
then  Maurus  blessed  the  man  from  afar, 

and  he  instantly  was  wondrously  healed.  288 

After  that  Maurus  would  not  journey  from  the  monastery, 
for  any  need,  unless  he  were  obliged, 
because  he  knew  what  had  been  foretold  him 
by  Saint  Benedict,  when  he  had  left  him,  292 

that  he  should  depart  from  this  world  to  Grod 
in  the  fourteenth  year  after  he  had  gone  from  him; 
and  dwelt  there  apart,  and  set  over  the  brothers 
another  abbot,  by  the  counsel  of  them  all,  296 

that  same  Florus'  son,  of  whom  we  have  before  spoken. 
He  was  then  very  much  busied  with  his  prayers 
in  St.  Martin's  church,  with  his  two  monks, 
for  two  years  axid  a  half  with  all  fervour,  300 

and,  with  holy  desire,  besought  God's  mercy. 
Then  on  a  certain  night  he  saw  the  devil, 
when  he  was  about  to  go  into  God's  church. 
The  fiend  had  with  him  many  other  devils,  304 


166  VI.    NAT  ALE   SANCTI   MAURI,   ABBATIS. 

and  for-wyrnde  him  Inganges  .  and  mid  graman  him  cwssTp  to  . 

pu  come  hider  maure  to  uncu(Sum  earde  . 

and  wendest  poet  ?5u  mihtest  us  aweg  drifan  . 

of  urum  wunungum  .  dc  ^u  scealt  witan  nu  .  308 

pcBt  ic  mid  mislicum  dea'Se  Jjine  ^munecas  acwelle  . 

swd  'pcet  earfo(5-Iice  heora  senig  belifS  . 

of  swa  micclum  werode  .  Ipe  h^r  wunatS  mid  Jje  . 

pa  cw3e?5  se  halga  wer  .  to  tSam  hetolan  sceoccan  .  312 

Dreage  tJe  se  hselend  .  pe  hsefS  ealles  geweald  . 

Jju  leas-breda  feond  .  and  facnes  ord-fruma  . 

Hwset  tSa  se  sceocca  sona  fordwdn 

of  his  gesihtSe  .  mid  swi'Slicum  reame  .  316 

swa  pcet  ISa,  munecas  micclum  afyrhte 

wurdon  awrehte  .  t5urh  his  wodlican  stemne  . 

and  eodon'^  to  uhtsange  .  ser  timan  swa  jjeah  . 

Maurus  tJa  eode  Into  martines  cyrcan  .  320 

and  mid  micelre  sarnysse  .  |?one  soSfsestan  god  baed  . 

pcet  he  him  geswutelode  .  be  Sees  sceoccan  gylpe  . 

and  him  gewislicor  onwrige  .  j^ses  awyrgedan  saga  . 

Maurus  <Sa  geseah  senne  scinende  engel  .  324 

wit?  hine  standende  .  and  pas  word  him  secgende  . 
i   pu  godes  dyrling  .  hwi  eart  t?u  swa  dreorig  . 
/   witodlice  se  deofol  wd,t  towerde  tSing 

hwilon  .  na  symle  .  Jjurh  sume  gebicnunge  .  328 

be  f)am  j^e  h6  oft  geseah  .  j^eah  pe  he  sylf  leas  sy  . 

and  pcet  pcet  he  pe  ssede  .  is  sot5  be  dsele  , 

swa  pcet  se  mseste  dael  cSinre  muneca  sceal  . 

of  life  gewitan  .  binnan  lytlan  fyrste  .  332 

and  hi  ealle  becumatJ  to  tSam  ecan  life . 

nnd  |?u  sylf  sitSSan  .  gesselig  him  fyligst  . 

to  godes  rice  .  Jjurh  gode  geearnunga  . 

^fter  tSisum  wordum  .  gewdt  se  engel  him  frara  .  336 

and  maurus  j^ses  on  mergen  pa.  munecas  gespraec  . 

and  ealle  his  gesihtSe  him  openlice  ssede  . 

and  manode  hi  georne  pcet  hi  gearwe  wseron  . 

*  Leaf  41,  back.  *  MS.  eoden,  alt.  to  eodon. 


VI.    SAINT   MAUB,   ABBOT.  167 

and  prevented  his  entrance,  and  with  rage  said  to  him, 

'Thou  earnest  hither,  Maurus,  to  a  strange  land, 

and  thoughtest  that  thou  couldest  drive  us  away 

out  of  our  dwellings,  but  thou  shalt  know  now,  308 

that  I  will,  with  divers  deaths,  kill  thy  monks, 

so  that  hardly  shall  any  one  of  them  remain 

of  so  great  a  company  as  now  dwell  with  thee.' 

Then  said  the  holy  man  to  the  hateful  devil,  312 

'Christ,  who  hath  power  over  all,  rebuke  thee, 

thou  lying  fiend,  and  author  of  wickedness.' 

So  then  the  devil  straightway  vanished 

out  of  his  sight  with  a  mighty  outcry,  316 

so  that  the  monks,  much  aifrighted, 

were  aroused  by  his  furious  voice,  , 

and  went  to  nocturns,  but  before  the  right  time. 

Maurus  then  went  into  Saint  Martin's  church,  320 

and  with  great  sorrow  besought  the  faithful  God, 

that  He  would  reveal  to  him  concerning  the  devil's  boasting, 

and  disclose  to  him  more  certainly  the  accursed  one's  saying. 

Maurus  then  saw  a  shining  angel  334 

standing  beside  him,  and  saying  these  words  to  him, 

'Thou,  God's  darling,  why  art  thou  so  sorrowful? 

Verily  the  devil  knoweth  future  things 

sometimes,  but  not  alway,  through  some  token  328 

of  what  he  has  oft  seen,  though  he  himself  be  false; 

and  that  which  he  said  to  thee  is  true  in  part, 

so  that  the  most  part  of  thy  monks  shall 

depart  from  life  within  a  little  while,  33a 

and  they  all  shall  come  to  the  eternal  life, 

and  thou  thyself  afterward  shall  blessedly  follow  them 

to  God's  kingdom  through  good  deserts.' 

After  these  words  the  angel  departed  from  him,  336 

and  Maurus  then,  in  the  morning,  spoke  to  the  monks, 

and  told  them  openly  all  his  vision, 

and  earnestly  exhorted  them  to  be  ready, 


168  VI.    NATALE    SANCTI    MAURI,    ABBATIS. 

and  mid  sotSre  behreowsunga  heora  sawle  a]7wogon  .  340 

fram  eallum  synnum  .  pcet  hi  siSian  mihton  . 

to  godes  beorhtnysse  .  mid  broSorlicre  lufe  . 

^fter  J^isum  wordum  .  wurdon  ]?a  munecas 

mycclum  abryrde  .  and  heora  gebeda  sungon  ,  344 

and  hi  sylfe  gearcodon  to  Jsam  sotSan  life  . 

and  hi  sylfe  betsehton  .  tSam  soSfaestan  scyppende  . 

Him  com  t5a  se  cwealm  swa  swa  se  ^engel  gecwse'S  . 

swa  p(Bt  an  hund  muneca  .  and  syxtyne  munecas  .  348 

binnan  fif  moncSum  .  of  tSam  mynstre  gewiton  . 

and  maurus  se  abbod  .  ge-endode  si(5(San  . 

swa  se  engel  saede  him  sylfum  .  on  ser  . 

peer  belifon  swa  Ipesih  lifes  on  Sam  mynstre  .  352 

feower  and  twentig  muneca  .  sefter  maures  for?5-si'Se  . 

and  he  waes  bebjrrged  .  binnan  martines  cyrcan  . 

pser  beo?5  wundra  geworhte  tSurh  pone  halgan  wer  . 

tSam  selmihtigan  to  lofe  .  Set5e  lyfaS  i  on  ecnysse  .  356 

pses  halgan  maures  lif  waes  ]?us  gelogod  . 

tSa  Jja  h6  twelf  wintra  waes  .  he  waes  betaeht  benedicte  . 

and  he  wunode  mid  him  twentig  wintra  sitJtSan  . 

and  on  his  agenum  mynstre  em  feowertig  geara  .  360 

pcet  synd  eall  to-gedere  twd  and  hund-seofontig  geare  , 

Twegen  Jjsera  muneca  Se  mid  him  )?yder  comon 

fortJ-ferdon  Jjaer  on  j^am  fore-saedan  cwealme  . 

and  twegen  cyrdon  ongean  sw4  sw4  he  sylf  behead  .  364 

eft  to  munte  casin  .  Sanon  pe  hi  £er  coman  , 

and  hyre  oSer  awrdt  |?as  gewyrdelican  race  , 

on  ledenum  gereorde  ac  we  it  reccaS  on  englisc  . 

Sy  wuldor  and  lof  .  (Sam  w61-willendan  gode  .  368 

setSe  wurtSatS  his  halgan  mid  wuldre  on  6cnysse.     Amen. 

*  Leaf  42. 


VI.    SAINT    MAUR,    ABBOT.  169 

and  to  wash  their  souls  by  true  repentance  340 

from  all  sins,  that  they  might  journey 

to  God's  brightness  with  brotherly  love. 

After  these  words  the  monks  became 

greatly  moved  (to  devotion),  and  sang  their  offices,  344 

and  prepared  themselves  for  the  true  life, 

and  committed  themselves  to  the  faithful  Creator. 

The  pestilence  then  came  upon  them  even  as  the  angel  said, 

so  that  one  hundred  and  sixteen  monks,  348 

within  five  months,  departed  from  the  monastery, 

and  Maurus  the  abbot  died  afterwards, 

as  the  angel  had  told  to  him  before. 

There  remained  alive,  however,  in  the  monastery,  352 

four  and  twenty  monks  after  Maurus'  death, 

and  he  was  buried  within  Saint  Martin's  church. 

There  miracles  are  wrought  by  the  holy  man 

to  the  praise  of  God,  who  liveth  ever  in  eternity.  356 

This  holy  Maurus'  life  was  thus  divided ; 

when  he  was  twelve  winters  old,  he  was  committed  to  Saint 

Benedict, 
and  he  remained  with  him  twenty  winters  thereafter, 
and  in  his  own  monastery  just  forty  years ;  360 

these  are  altogether  seventy-two  years. 
Two  of  the  monks  who  came  with  him  thither, 
died  there  in  the  aforesaid  pestilence, 

and  two  returned  again,  as  he  himself  commanded,  364 

back  to  Monte  Cassino,  whence  they  had  first  come, 
and  one  of  them  [named  Faustus]  wrote  this  true  history 
in  the  Latin  tongue,  but  we  tell  it  in  English. 
Be  glory  and  praise  to  the  benevolent  God,  368 

who  rewardeth  His  saints  with  glory  in  eternity.     Amen. 


170  VII.   NATALE   SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIUGINIS. 


VII. 

XII.^  KALENDAS  ¥EBIiUAEIAS.  NAT^L^ 
SANCTE  AGNETIS  UIRGINIS. 

[The  copy  in  MS.  0.  is  much  damaged,  but  little  of  it  being  legible;  and 
that  in  MS.  V.  is  destroyed.] 

AMBROSIVS   BISCEOP    .    BINNAN    MEDIOLANA 

-LJl     afunde  on  ealdum  bocum  .  be  Ssere  eadigan  agne  . 

hu  heo  on  rome  byrig  retSe  ehtnysse  acdm  . 

and  on  msegcShade  martyr-dom  tSrowode  .  '  4 

Da  awrdt  ambrosius  .  be  ]?am  msedene  tSus  . 

On  |?8ere  tide  wses  sum  se(5el-boren  mgeden  . 

agues  gehaten  .  on  Sone  hgelend  gelyfed  . 

binnan  rome  byrig  .  bilewit  .  and  snotor  .  8 

cild-lic  on  gearum  .  and  eald-lic  on  mode  . 

Seo  wan  fjurh  ge-leafan  .  wit5  Ipa  feond-lican  ealdras  . 

and  on  ?Sam  ]?ritteo(5an  geara  )3one  deaS  forleas  . 

and  ]}(iet  ece  lif  gemette  .  for'San  pe  heo  lufode  crist  .  12 

Heo  wses  wlitig  ^  on  ansyne  .  and  wlitigre  on  geleafan  . 

pa  ^a  heo  gewende^  of  scole  .  tSa  awogode  hi  sum  cniht 

simpronies  sunu  .  \>e  wses  ge-set  ofer  c5a  burh  . 

to  heah-gerefan  .  and  wses  hsetSen-gilda  .  16 

pa  budon  tJa  magas  |?am  msedene  sona 

deorwurSe  gyrlan  .  and  deorwurtSran  beh^ton  . 

Ac  seo  eadige  agues  .  Ipcet  eall  forseah  . 

and  Jjsera  *  matSma  ®  ne  rohte  .  Tpe  md  Ipe  reocendes  meoxes  .    20 

Da  brohte  se  cniht  to  tSam  clsenan  msedene  . 

deorwurtSa  gimmas  .  and  woruldlice  glencga  , 

and  beh^t  hire  welan  gif  heo  wolde  hine  . 

|3a  andwyrde  agnes  .  anrsedlice  psaa  cnihte  .  24 

Gewit  ?5u  fram  me  synne  outendnys 

leahtras  foda  .  and  deatSes  bigleafa 

gewit  fram  me  .  Ic  hsebbe  otSerne  lufieud  . 

*  MS.  Julius  has  XIII ;  hut  0.  has  XII.       *  Leaf  42,  back,      ^  O.  wsende. 
*  0.  Sara.  *  0.  madma. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  171 

VII. 

JANUARY  21.    SAINT  AGNES,  VIRGIN. 

Ambrose,  Bishop  of  Milan, 

found  [written]  in  old  books  concerning  the  blessed  Agnes, 

how  she  endured  cruel  persecution  in  the  city  of  Rome, 

and  in  girlhood  suffered  martyrdom.  4 

Then  wrote  Ambrose  concerning  the  maiden  thus. 

At  that  time  there  was  a  noble  maiden 

called  Agnes,  believing  in  the  Saviour, 

in  the  city  of  Rome,  gentle  and  wise,  8 

a  child  in  years,  but  old  in  mind. 

She  contended  through  faith  with  the  fiendlike  rulers, 

and  in  her  thirteenth  year  lost  mortality, 

and  found  eternal  life,  for  that  she  loved  Christ.  12 

She  was  fair  in  countenance,  and  fairer  in  faith. 

When  she  returned  from  school,  a  youth  wooed  her, 

son  of  Sempronius,  who  was  set  over  the  city 

[to  rule]  as  prefect,  and  who  was  an  idolator.  i6 

Then  straightway  his  kinsmen  offered  to  the  maiden 

costly  robes,  and  promised  [her]  yet  costlier  ones, 

but  the  blessed  Agnes  despised  it  all, 

and  recked  no  more  of  the  treasures  than  of  a  reeking  dunghill. 

Then  the  youth  brought  to  the  pure  maiden  21 

precious  gems  and  worldly  ornaments, 

and  promised  her  riches  if  she  would  [have]  him- 

Then  Agnes  answered  the  youth  fearlessly,  24 

'Depart  thou  from  me,  thou  fuel  of  sin, 

food  of  crime,  and  nourishment  of  death, 

depart  from  me  !    I  have  another  lover, 


172  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

J3inne  ungelican  .  on  se'Selborennysse  28 

setSe  me  bead  bseteran  fraetegunga  , 
and  his  geleafan  bring  me  let  to  wedde  . 
and  me  gefrsetewode  .  mid  un-aemeagendlicra  wurcSfulnysse  . 
He  befeng  minne  swiSran  .  and  eac  minne  swuran  ,  32 

mid  deorwurtSum  stanum  .  and  mid  scinendum  gimmum  . 
He  gesette  his  tacn  .  on  minum  nebbe  . 
pcet  ic  nsenne  oSerne  ofer  hine  ne  lufige  . 

He  geglsengde  me  mid  orle  .  of  golde  awefen  .  36 

and  mid  ormettum  mynum  me  gefretewode  . 
He  set-eowde  me  eac  .  his  senlican  hordas  . 
t5a  he  me  geh^t  .  gif  ic  him  gelseste  . 

Ne  mseg  ic  him  to  teonan  o'Serne  geceosan  .  40 

and  hine  forlaetan  .  ]?e  me  mid  lufe  beweddode  . 
His  ansyn  is  wlitigre  .  and  his  lufu  wynsumre  . 
his  bryd-bedd  me  is  gearo  ^  .  nu  iu  mid  dreamum  . 
His  meedenu  me  singatS  .  mid  geswegum  stemnum  .  44 

Of  his  mutSe  ic  under-feng  meoluc  .  and  hunig  . 
nu  iu  ic  eom  beclypt  .  mid  his  clsenum  earmum  . 
his  faegera  lichama  is  minum  geferlaeht  . 

and  his  blod  ge-glende  mine  eah-hringas  .'  48 

His  modor  is  mseden  .  and  his  mihtiga  feeder 
wifes  ne  breac  .  and  him  A.  bugaS  englas  . 
His  wlites  wuldriatS  .  pa,  wynsumu?i  (sic)  ^tunglan  , 
sunne  .  and  mona  .  pe  middan-eard  onlihtatS  .  52 

purh  his  spsec  geedcucia'S  eac  tJa  deadan  . 

and  }3urh  his  hrepunge  beotS  gestrangode  J?a  unstrangan  seocan  . 
His  speda  ne  ateoriatS  .  ne  his  welan  ne  waniaS  . 
pam  anum  ic  healde  minne  truwan  sefre  .  56 

J?am  ic  me  befseste  mid  ealre  estfulnysse  . 
ponne  ic  hine  lufige  .  ic  beo  eallunga  clsene  . 
|3onne  Ic  hine  hreppe  .  ic  beo  unwemme  . 

tSonne  Ic  hine  under -fo  .  ic  beo  maeden  for?5  .  60 

and  ]73er  bsern  ne  ateoriatS  .  on  tSam  bryd-lace  . 
pser  is  eacnung  buton  sare  .  and  singallic  wsestmbsernyss  . 
*  0.  geara.  ^  Leaf  43. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  173 

unlike  to  thee  in  nobility,  38 

who  hath  offered  me  better  adornments, 

and  hath  granted  me  for  a  pledge  the  ring  of  His  faith, 

and  hath  adorned  me  with  unimaginable  honour. 

He  hath  encircled  my  right  hand  and  also  my  neck  32 

with  precious  stones,  and  with  shining  gems. 

He  hath  set  His  token  upon  my  face 

that  I  should  love  none  other  beside  Him. 

He  hath  decked  me  with  a  robe  woven  of  gold,  36 

and  hath  adorned  me  with  exceeding  [rich]  jewels; 

He  hath  shewed  me  also  His  incomparable  treasures, 

which  He  hath  promised  me  if  I  follow  Him. 

I  may  not  to  His  dishonour  choose  another  40 

and  forsake  Him  who  hath  espoused  me  by  His  love. 

His  countenance  is  fairer  and  His  love  winsomer  [than  thine], 

His  bridal-bed  hath  been  now  of  a  long  time  prepared  for  me 

with  joys, 
His  maidens  sing  to  me  with  melodious  voices.  44 

From  his  mouth  I  have  received  milk  and  honey; 
now  already  I  am  embraced  with  His  pure  arms ; 
His  fair  body  is  united  to  mine, 

and  His  blood  hath  adorned  my  eyebrows  {lit.  eye-rings).         48 
His  mother  is  a  Virgin,  and  His  mighty  Father 
knew  not  woman,  and  to  Him  the  angels  ever  bow. 
The  winsome  stars  glorify  His  beauty, 

and  the  sun  and  moon  also,  which  enlighten  the  earth.  52 

By  His  word  even  the  dead  are  quickened, 
and  by  His  touch  the  infirm  sick  are  strengthened. 
His  abundance  never  faileth,  nor  His  wealth  waneth. 
To  Him  alone  I  ever  keep  my  troth,  56 

to  whom  I  commit  myself  with  all  devotion. 
When  I  love  Him,  I  am  wholly  pure; 
when  I  touch  Him,  I  am  unstained, 

when  I  receive  Him,  I  am  still  a  virgin,  60 

and  there,  in  the  bridal,  no  child  lacketh. 
There  is  conception  without  sorrow,  and  perpetual  fruitfulness.' 


174  VII.    NATALE   SANCTE   AGNETIS,   VIRGINIS. 

Se  cniht  weartS  ge-ancsumod  .  and  witS-innan  ablend 
sefter  J?8es  msedenes  spraece  .  J)e  hine  spearn  mid  wordum  .       64 
He  wearS  pa.  gesicelod  ,  and  siccetunga  teah  . 
of  niwel-licum  breoste  .  on  bedde  licgende  . 
pa  cunnodan  leecas  hwi  he  licgende  waere  . 

and  cyddan  J^am  fseder  .  pses  cnihtes  mod-leaste  .  68 

pa  sende  se  fseder  sona  to  (Sam  maedene  . 
pcet  ylce  serende  .  Ipe  his  sunu  ser  ahead  . 
ac  agnes  witSsoc  .  ssede  pcet  heo  nolde 

Jjses  serran  bryd-guman  se]?elan  truwan  .  72 

sefre  gewemman  }?urh  senig  wedd  . 
pa  puhte  tSam  heah-gerefan  huxlic  on  mode  . 
pcet  heo  ojjerne  tealde  to-foran  his  gebyrdum  . 
befran  swa  j?eah  J)earle  mid  mycelre  tSrutunge  .  76 

hwset  se  bryd-guma  wsere  .  J?e  agnes  onwuldrode  . 
Him  wear's  pa  gessed  .  pcet  heo  fram  cild-hade  sona 
cristen  waere  .  and  swa  mid  dry-crsefte  afylled  . 
p<£t  heo  crist  tealde  hire  to  bryd-guman  .  80 

Hwset  Sa  simpronius  mid  switSlicum  gehlyde  . 
h6t  hi  gefeccan  hSm  to  his  dom-setle  . 
and  serest  onsundron  mid  geswsesum  wordum  . 
olehte  J3am  msedene  .  and  sefter  tSam  geegsode  .  84 

Ac  pcet  godes  mseden  ne  mihte  beon  bepseht 
J>urh  senige  lyffetunge  fram  hire  leofan  drihtne  . 
ne  heo  nses  afyrht  .  for  his  )7eow-racan  . 

pa  ge-seah  sympronius  hyre  soj^an  an^rsednysse  .  88 

and  cydde  hire  freondum  .  pcet  heo  for-scylgod  (sic)  waere 
for  hire  cristen-dome  .  j^e  se  casere  onscunode 
Eft  Jjses  on  mergen  het  se  manfulla  dema 

jja  eadigan  agnen  him  to  gefeccan  .  92 

and  saede  hire  gelome  hu  his  sunu  hi  lufode  . 
ac  him  speow  hwonlice  .  Jjeah  pe  h6  switSe  sprsece  . 
He  ge-sset  fja  his  dom-setl  .  dreorig  on  mode  . 
and  beh^t  Sam  maedene  menig-fealde  wita  96 

buton  heo  wiSsoce  jsone  soSan  haelend  . 
*  Leaf  43,  back. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  175 

The  youth  was  angered,  and  inwardly  blinded 

after  the  maiden's  speech,  who  had  spui-ned  him  with  words.  64 

He  straightway  fell  ill,  and  drew  sighs 

from  the  depths  of  his  breast,  lying  on  his  bed. 

Then  leeches  enquired  why  he  was  lying  there, 

and  made  known  to  the  father  the  youth's  mental  disorder.     68 

Then  the  father  sent  straightway  to  the  maiden 

the  same  errand  which  his  son  had  before  announced; 

but  Agnes  refused,  saying  that  she  would  not 

by  any  marriage,  ever  stain  72 

the  noble  troth  of  the  first  bridegroom. 

Then  it  seemed  to  the  Prefect  shameful  in  his  mind 

that  she  should  account  another  before  his  son. 

He  strictly  questioned,  nevertheless,  with  great  threatening       76 

who  this  bridegroom  was  of  whom  Agnes  boasted. 

It  was  then  told  him  that  she  had  been  a  Christian 

from  early  childhood,  and  so  filled  with  delusion 

that  she  accounted  Christ  as  being  her  bridegroom.  80 

Lo  !    then  Sempronius,  with  a  loud  voice, 

bade  fetch  her  home  to  his  judgment-seat, 

and  first,  apart,  with  persuasive  words 

flattered  the  maiden,  and  after  that  intimidated  her.  84 

But  the  virgin  of  God  could  not  be  allured 

by  any  flattery  from  her  beloved  Lord, 

neither  was  she  afraid  because  of  his  threatening. 

Then  Sempronius  saw  her  true  constancy,  88 

and  told  her  friends  that  she  would  be  accused 

for  her  Christianity,  which  the  Emperor  abhorred. 

After  this  in  the  morning  the  wicked  judge  bade 

fetch  the  blessed  Agnes  to  him,  92 

and  told  her  repeatedly  how  his  son  loved  her, 

but  he  had  little  success,  though  he  spake  very  much. 

He  sat  there  on  his  judgment-seat,  vexed  in  mind, 

and  promised  to  the  maiden  manifold  pxmishments,  96 

unless  she  would  renounce  the  true  Saviour. 


176  VII,   NATALE   SANCTE   AGNETIS,   VIRGINIS. 

He  cwse'S  aeft  sit5?5an  to  tSam  snoteran  msedene  . 
Hlyst  minum  raede  .  gif  tSu  lufast  megS-had  . 
Ipcet  (5u  gebuge  mid  biggengum  .  hra'Se  .  loo 

to  J38ere  gydenan^  uesta  .  pe  galnysse  onscunatS  . 
Agnes  tSa  andwyrde  .  p&m  arleasan  and  cwsetS  . 
lo  for-seah  j^inne  sunu  cSe  soJ)lice  is  man  . 

and  ic  nates  hwon  ne  mseg  on  his  neb-wlite  beseon  104 

for  mines  cristes  lufe  hu  maeg  ic  him  to  teonan  . 
to  |3am  deadum  anlicnyssum  .  me  ge-eadmedan  . 
pa  cw8et5  se  heah-gerefa  .  to  tJam  halgan  msedene  . 
Ic  forbger  Jje  otS  J^is  .  fortSan  pe  Su  gyt  cild  eart  .  108 

pu  taelst  ure  godas  .  swa  peah  ne  graema  p\i  hi  . 
Agnes  him  andwyrde  .  Se  selmihtiga  heratS 
swiSor  manna  mod  .  ponne  heora  mycclan  ylde  . 
and  se  geleafa  ne  bicS  on  gearum  .  ac  biS  on  gleewum  andgitum  . 
Lset  jjine  godas  geyrsian  .  gif  hi  aht  magon  .  113 

Lset  hi  sylfe  beodan  pcet  we  us  to  him  gebiddan  . 
gif  ]3U  J^is  don  ne  miht  .     drece  us  loca  hu  J3U  wylle  . 
pa  cwseS  simpronius  .  se  sceandlica  dema  .  116 

Geceos  pe  nu  agues  an  |?3era  twegra  . 
otS(5e  ]?u  mid  maedenum  p8er&  mseran  uestan  . 
Jjinue  lac  geofifrige  .  oSSe  }3U  laSum  myltestrum 
scealt  beon  geferlseht  .  and  fulhce  gebysmrod  .  120 

and  tSa  cristenan  ne  magon  pe  jjonne  ahreddan  . 
Hwset  ]3a  agues  aw^wyrde  .  mid  mycelre  anrsednysse  . 
gif  'Su  cu'Sest  minne  god  .  ne  cwsede  J)u  Sae  word  . 
Orsorhlice  ic  forseo  ]?ine  jjeow-racan  .  124 

forjjan  J^e  ic  geare  cann  mines  drihtnes  mihte  . 
Ic  truwige  on  him  forj^an  Se  he 
Is  me  trumweall  .  and  un^ateorigend-lic  bewerigend  . 
pcet  ic  tSinum  awyrgeduw  godum  ne  tSurfe  128 

ge-oflfrian  ,  ne  jjurh  selfremede  horwan  . 
sefre  beon  gefyled  .  mid  |?am  fulum  myltestrum  , 
Ic  haebbe  godes  encgel  haligne  mid  me  . 

pine  godas  syndou  agotene  of  Are  .  132 

*  MS.  gyldenan,  i.  e.  golden.  *  Leaf  44. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  177 

After  that  he  said  again  to  the  wise  maiden, 
'Listen  to  my  counsel,  if  thou  lovest  virginity, 
that  thou  submit  quickly  to  the  worship  loo 

of  the  goddess  Vesta,  who  hateth  impurity.' 
Then  Agnes  answered  the  wicked  man,  and  said, 
'  I  refused  thy  son,  who  truly  is  a  man, 

and  I  can  in  no  wise  regard  the  beauty  of  his  countenance   104 
for  the  love  of  my  Christ;    how  can  I,  to  His  dishonour, 
humble  myself  to  the  dead  image?' 
Then  said  the  Prefect  to  the  holy  maiden, 

*I  have  borne  with  thee  hitherto  because  thou  art  yet  a  child; 
thou  insultest  our  gods,  yet  do  not  anger  them.'  109 

Agnes  answered  him,  'The  Almighty  appro veth 
the  minds  of  men  rather  than  their  great  age; 
and  faith  is  not  in  years,  but  dwells  in  prudent  understandings. 
Let  thy  gods  be  angry  if  they  can  do  aught.  113 

Let  themselves  command  us  to  worship  them  ; 
if  thou  canst  not  accomplish  this,  afflict  us,  lo  !   how  thou  wilt.' 
Then  said  Sempronius,  the  shameful  judge,  116 

'Choose  thee  now,  Agnes,  one  of  these  two  things; 
either  thou  shalt,  among  the  virgins  of  the  mighty  Vesta, 
offer  thy  sacrifice,  or  thou  shalt  be  associated 
with  loathly  harlots  and  foully  dishonoured,  120 

and  the  Christians  will  not  then  be  able  to  deliver  thee.' 
Then  Agnes  answered  with  great  resolution, 
'If  thou  knewest  my  God,  thou  wouldest  not  say  these  words. 
Without  care,  I  despise  thy  threatenings,  124 

because  I  well  know  my  Lord's  might. 
I  trust  in  Him  because  He  is 
to  me  a  strong  wall,  and  an  unfailing  defence, 
so  that  I  need  not  sacrifice  to  thy  accursed  gods;  ia8 

neither  by  pollution  from  without  [can  I] 
ever  be  defiled  among  foul  harlots. 
I  have  God's  holy  angel  with  me; 

thy  gods  are  molten  of  [mere]  brass,  132 

12 


178  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

of  Jjain  tSe  maa  wyrctS  wynsume  fate  . 

oStSe  hi  synd  stsenene  .  mid  ]?am  pe  man  strseta  wyrctS  . 

Nis  na  godes  wunung  on  t5am  graegum  stanum  . 

ne  on  serenum  wecgum  .  ac  he  wunacS  on  heofonum  ,  136 

pe  sotSlice  genimtS  and  J?ine  gelican  . 

seo  grimlice  hell  .  mid  Jjam  gi-sedigum  fyre  . 

on  ]3am  ge  beotS  toblawene  .  and  foi'byrnan  ne  magon  . 

ac  beotS  sefre  ge-edniwode  .  Ssere  ecan  ontendnysse  .  140 

pa  het  se  woda  dema  hyre  wseda  of  adon  . 

and  hi  swa  nacode  gelsedan  .  to  |3am  forligres  huse  . 

and  h6t  clypian  geond  pa.  strse't  .  and  cySan  be  j^ysum  , 

Hwset  tJa  godes  miht  mycclum  wearS  geswutelod  .  144 

swa  pcet  )j8es  maedenes  fex  .  befeng  hi  eall  abutan  . 

sona  swa  pB.  cwelleras  hire  clacSas  of  abrudon  . 

and  pcet  fex  hi  behelede  on  selce  healfe  gelice  . 

Hi  tugon  tSa  pcet  maeden  to  jjsera  myltestrena  huse  .  148 

ac  heo  gemette  j^aer  sona  scinende  godes  encgel  . 

swa  pcet  nan  man  ne  mihte  for  ?Sam  mycclum  leohte 

hire  on  beseon  .  otJSe  hi  hreppan  . 

for  ]3an  pe  tSet  hus  eall  sceiin  .  swd  swa  sunne  on  daeg  .         152 

and  swa  hi  hi  gearnlicor  sceawodon  .  sw4  scimodon  heora  eagon 

switSor  . 
Agnes  hi  Jja  astrehte  }?one  selmihtigan  biddende  . 
and  god  hyre  J)a  asende  scinende  tunecan 

Heo  f)ancode  Sa  criste  .  and  tSone  clatS  hire  onadyde  .  156 

and  wses  switSe  gemaete  hire  micelnysse  . 
beorhte  scinende  .  swa  pcet  men  geseon  mihton  . 
pcet  god  hire  sende  ]?one  scinende  claS  . 

pa  wearS  J?sera  myltestrena  hus  mannum  to  gebaed-huse  .        160 
and  selc  setSe  Inneode  .  arwurtSode  god  . 
for  J)am  heofonlican  leohte  .  pe  on  <5am  huse  scean  . 
pa  com  |33es  gerefan  suna  (sic)  to  |38ere  scinendan  stowe  . 
mid   his    sceandlicum   ^gegadum   .   wolde   J^a   godes   jjinene   ge- 

bysmrian  .  164 

and  sende  him  sona  set-foran  .  sume  Into  hire  . 
*  Leaf  44,  back. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  179 

whereof  men  construct  fair  vessels, 

or  they  are  of  stone,  whereof  men  make  streets. 

God's  dwelling  is  not  in  the  gray  stones, 

nor  in  brazen  lumps,  but  He  dwelleth  in  Heaven.  136 

Thee  verily,  and  such  as  are  like  thee, 

shall  terrible  hell,  with  its  greedy  fire,  seize, 

wherein  ye  shall  be  blasted,  and  yet  cannot  be  consumed, 

but  shall  ever  be  renewed  in  the  everlasting  burning,'  140 

Then  the  infuriated  judge  bade  men  take  oif  her  garments, 

and  lead  her,  thus  naked,  to  the  harlot's  house; 

and  commanded  them  to  cry  throughout  the  streets,  and  make 

this  known. 
Lo  then  !   God's  power  was  mightily  manifested,  144 

so  that  the  maiden's  hair  covered  her  all  about 
as  soon  as  the  executioners  tore  oflF  her  clothes ; 
and  the  hair  covered  her  alike  on  every  side. 
Then  they  dragged  the  maiden  to  the  harlots'  house;  148 

but  she  at  once  found  there  a  shining  angel  of  God, 
so  that  no  man,  because  of  that  great  light, 
could  either  look  upon  or  touch  her, 

for  the  house  all  shone  as  the  sun  in  the  day-time ;  152 

and  the   more   closely  they  looked  at  her,  the  more  their  eyes 

were  dazzled. 
Then  Agnes  prostrated  herself,  praying  to  the  Almighty, 
and  God  thereupon  sent  her  a  shining  tunic. 
Then  she  thanked  Christ,  and  donned  the  clothing,  156 

which  fitted  her  size  very  exactly, 
brightly  shining,  so  that  men  might  see 
that  God  had  sent  her  the  shining  clothing. 
So  became  that  house  of  harlots  a  house  of  prayer  for  men, 
and  each  one  who  entered  gave  glory  to  God  161 

for  the  heavenly  light  which  shone  in  that  house. 
Then  came  the  Prefect's  son  to  the  shining  place 
with  his  shameful  companions,  desiring  to  dishonour  the  virgin 

of  God,  164 

and  straightway  sent  in  before  him  some  of  them  to  her; 

12-2 


180  VII.   NATALE   SANCTE  AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

ac  hi  wundrodon  switSe  .  Jjses  wynsuman  leohtes  . 
and  ablicgede  cyrdon  .  to  heora  bysmorfuUum  hlaforde  . 
pa  tSreade  he  hi  J^earle  .  fortSan  Jje  hi  j^ses  scinendan  leohtes  168 
swa  swi'Se  wundrodon  .  and  hi  gewemman  ne  dorston  . 
Am  Jja  him  sylf  inn  .  mid  sceand-licum  willan  . 
ac  he  feol  astreht  setforan  ]3am  msedene  adyd  . 
J)urh  tSone  deofol  \)e  h6  dwollice  gehyrsumede  .  172 

He  laeg  Jjser  swa  deed  lange  on  padre  flora  . 
?Sa  wendon  his  gegadan  pcet  he  wsere  gebysgod 
embe  his  fracedan  dieda  .  pa  fandode  heora  dn  . 
and  ge-mette  hine  deadne  .  and  dreorig  sona  clypode  .  176 

Eala  ge  romanisce  arfseste  symle  . 
gehelpacS  us  hratSe  .  J)eos  recSe  myltestre 
mid  hire  drycraefte  adydde  urne  hlaford  . 

pa  arn  seo  burh-waru  .  ablycged  Jjider  sona  ,  180 

and  se  faeder  eac  com  .  clypigende  mid  gehlyde  . 
pu  wsel-hreowasta  wimman  .  woldest  Su  geswutelian 
l^iune  feondlican  dry-crseft  .  swa  pcet  ?Su  minne  sunu  adyddest  . 
Agnes  him  cwseS  to  .  hwi  synd  ]?a  otSre  cuce  .  184 

pe   hider  inn-eodon  .  buton  fortSon  pe  hi  arwurcSodon 
J)one  selmihtigan  god  .  pe  me  myld-heort-lice  gescrydde  . 
and  asende  me  his  encgel  .  pe  minne  lichaman  geheold  . 
sepe  wses  fram  cyld-cradole  criste  gehalgod  .  188 

pin  sceamleasa  sunu  .  mid  sceamleasum  anginne  . 
arn  into  me  .  ac  se  encgel  hine  afylde  . 
and  tSam  deofle  betsehte  .  j^e  hine  adydde  Jjser-rihte  . 
pa  cwsetS  se  heah-gerefa  .  to  ^am  halgan  msedene  .  192 

Jjin  saga  biS  ge-swutelod  .  gif  pn  |3one  sylfan  encgel  bitst  . 
pcet  h6  minne  ancennedan  sunu  .  nu  ansundne  araere  . 
Agnes  seo  eadige  him  andwyrde  ]3us  . 

Ne  synd  ge  na  wyrt5e  .  pcet  wundor  to  geseonne  .  196 

Ac  swa  peah  is  tima  .  pcet  drihtnes  miht  beo  geswutelod  . 
Gats  eow  nu  peah.  ^alle  ut  .  pcet  ic  me  ana  gebidde  . 
Hi  eodon  }ja  ealle  ut  .  and  heo  hi  ana  gebsed 
biddende  hire  drihHen  pcet  he  Jjone  deadan  arserde  .  200 

*  Leaf  45. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES.    VIRGIN.  181 

but  they  marvelled  greatly  at  the  winsome  light, 
and  returned  astonished  to  their  impious  lord. 
Then  he  reproached  them  furiously  because  they  had  wondered 
so  much  i68 

at  the  shining  light,  and  had  not  dared  to  defile  her. 
Then  he  himself  ran  in  with  shameful  intent, 
but  he  fell  prostrated  before  the  maiden,  struck  down 
by  the  devil  whom  he  foolishly  obeyed.  172 

He  lay  there,  as  if  dead,  a  long  time  upon  the  floor ; 
then  his  companions  thought  that  he  was  busied 
about  his  evil  deeds,  then  one  of  them  came  to  see, 
and  found  him  dead,  and  immediately  cried  out  in  grief,         176 
'  Alas !   ye  ever  pious  Romans, 
help  us  quickly,  this  cruel  harlot 
with  her  witchcraft  hath  destroyed  our  lord  ! ' 
Then  straightway  the  citizens  ran  thither  astonished,  180 

and  the  father  also  came,  crying  aloud, 
'Thou  cruelest  woman,  wouldst  thou  show 
thy  fiendlike  sorcery,  to  destroy  my  son?' 

Agnes  said  to  him,  'Why  are  the  others  living  184 

who  came  in  hither,  but  because  they  worshipped 
the  Almighty  God  who  compassionately  clothed  me, 
and  sent  me  His  Angel,  who  preserved  my  body, 
which  was,  from  the  cradle,  consecrated  to  Christ?  188 

Thy  shameless  son,  with  shameless  intent 
ran  in  towards  me,  but  the  Angel  felled  him, 
and  delivered  him  to  the  devil  who  straightway  destroyed  him.' 
Then  said  the  Prefect  to  the  holy  maiden,  192 

*  Thy  saying  will  be  manifested  if  thou  wilt  pray  the  self-same  angel 
that  he  will  now  raise  up  my  only  son  in  sound  health.' 
The  blessed  Agnes  answered  him  thus, 

'Thou  art  not  worthy  to  see  that  wonder,  196 

but  nevertheless  it  is  time  that  the  Lord's  might  be  manifested. 
Go  ye  now  therefore  all  out,  that  I  may  pray  alone.' 
Then  went  they  all  out,  and  she  prayed  alone, 
beseeching  her  Lord  that  He  would  raise  the  dead,  200 


182  VII.    NATALE   SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

pa  seteowde  |78er  cristes  encgel  .  and  J?one  cniht  arserde  . 

and  he  am  J?3er-rihte  ut  .  J^a  he  geedcucod  wses  . 

clypigende  ofer  call  .  and  cwsetSende  J5us  . 

An  god  is  on  heofonum  .  and  eac  on  eortSan  .  ■204 

setSe     is    jjsera     cristenra     god    .    and     eower    godas     ne     synd 

nahtes  . 
Hi  ne  magon  him  sylfum  fremian  .  ne  o?5rum  fultumian  . 
pa  wurdon  pa  hsecSengyldan  .  hetelice  gedrefede  . 
and  clypodon  mid  gehlyde  .  be  tSara  geleaffullan  msedene  .      208 
AnimatS  animatS  hratSe  .  j^a  retJan  wiccan  . 
seo  pe  tJus  awent  ]3urh  wicce-crseft  manna  mod  . 
pa  ne  dorste  se  heah-gerefa  .  naht  ongean  pa  hae'Sen-gyldan  . 
ac  for-let  his  gingran  togeanes  Jjsere  ceaste  .  212 

and  ferde  him-sylf  aweg  .  sorhful  on  mode  . 
fortSan  pe  h6  ne  mihte  pcet  mseden  ahreddan  . 
wiS  Jja  hsetSen-gyldan  .  sefter  his  suna  seriate  . 
Hwset  }7a  aspasius  se  under-gerefa  .  316 

ne  mihte  witS-cwsetSan  ]7am  cwealm-bserum  folce  . 
ac  h^t  J7a  ontendan  for  )5am  micclum  teonan  . 
swySe  micel  fyr  .  and  hi  to-middes  besceofan  . 
Hit  wear's  jja  swd  gedon  .  swa  se  wselhreowa  h^t  .  320 

ac  se  lig  hine  todgelde  .  on  twegen  dselas  sona  . 
and  for-swselde  pa,  ?Se  ]5a  ceaste  macedon  . 
and  agnes  seo  eadige  .  stod  on  sele  middan  gesund  . 
astrsehtum  handum  }7us  h(  gebiddende  .  224 

Eala  Su  Eelmihtiga  god  .  ana  to  ge-biddene  , 
ondrgedend-lic  scyppend  .  sojjlic  to  wurtSigenne  . 
mines  drihtnes  feeder  .  '5e  ic  bletsige  . 

forSan  pe  Ic  set-wand  |?urh  |5inne  wynsuman  sunu  ,  228 

Jjsera  arleasra  fjeowracan  .  and  eac  jpses  deofles  fylSe  , 
Efne  ic  eom  begoten  mid  godcundlicum  deawe  . 
|j8es  lig  is  to-dseled  and  pa  geleaf-leasan  forswselede  . 
Ic  bletsige  tSe  feeder  bodigendlic  god  .  232 

pcet  ic  j?urh  fyr  unforht  to  tSe  faran  mot  . 
pcet  pcet  ic  gelyfde  pcet  ic  geseo  . 
tSset  pcet  ic  gehihte  .  past  ic  haebbe  nu  . 


VII.    SAINT    AGNES,    VIRGIN.  183 

Then  appeared  there  Christ's  Angel,  and  raised  the  youth, 
and  he  immediately  ran  out,  when  he  was  requickened, 
crying  everywhere,  and  saying  thus, 

'There  is  One  God  in  Heaven  and  likewise  on  earth,  204 

He   who    is    the    God    of    the    Christians,   and   your    gods    are 

naught ; 
they  can  neither  profit  themselves  nor  help  others.' 
Then  the  idolators  were  sorely  troubled, 

and  cried  clamorously  against  the  believing  maiden,  208 

'Away,  away  quickly  with  the  cruel  witch, 
her  who  thus  by  her  witchcraft  perverts  men's  minds.' 
Then  the  Prefect  durst  do  nothing  against  the  heathen, 
but  left  his  deputy  to  stem  the  tumult,  a  13 

and  himself  went  away  sorrowful  in  mind, 
because  he  could  not  save  the  maiden 
from  the  idolators,  after  the  raising  of  his  son. 
"Well,  then,  Aspasius,  the  deputy-Prefect,  216 

could  not  oppose  the  blood-thirsty  people, 
but  bade  men  kindle,  for  this  great  dishonour  (of  the  gods), 
a  very  great  fire,  and  bade  them  shove  her  into  the  midst. 
Then  was  it  so  done,  as  the  cruel  man  commanded,  220 

but  the  flame  instantly  divided  itself  into  two  parts, 
and  burned  up  those  who  had  made  the  tumult ; 
and  the  blessed  Agnes  stood  unharmed  in  the  midst  of  the  fire, 
with  outstretched  hands,  thus  praying,  224 

'  Oh !   Thou  Almighty  God,  who  alone  art  to  be  adored, 
Terrible  Creator,  who  art  truly  to  be  worshipped, 
Father  of  my  Lord,  I  bless  Thee, 

for  that  I  have  escaped,  through  Thy  gracious  Son,  228 

the  threatenings  of  the  wicked,  and  also  the  filth  of  the  devil. 
Behold,  now  I  am  besprinkled  with  divine  dew, 
this  flame  is  divided,  and  the  unbelievers  are  consumed. 
I  bless  Thee,  Father,  who  art  to  be  proclaimed  God,  333 

that  I  may  pass  unfearful  through  the  fire  to  Thee. 
That  which  I  have  believed,  that  I  see  ; 
that  which  I  have  hoped  for,  that  I  now  have; 


184  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,  VIKGINIS. 

pe  Ic  andette  mid  mut5e  .  and  mid  minre  heortan  .  236 

and  mid  eallum  innotSe  .  ic  pe  gewilnige  . 
'  senne  sotSne  god  .  pe  mid  ]?inum  suna  rixast  . 
and  mid  Jjam  halgan  gaste  .  an  aelmihtig  god  sefre  . 
paet  fyr  wearS  ]5a  acwenced  .  pcet  ]58er  an  col  ne  gleow  .        240 
and  pcet  folc  tealde  poet  to  dry-crsefte 
grymetende  mid  gehlyde  .  grame  to  feore  . 
Da  ne  mihte  Aspasius  }?a  micclan  ceaste  acuman  . 
ac  h^t  hi  acwellan  .  mid  cwealm-bserum  swurde  .  244 

and  crist  hi  t5a  underfeng  .  for  his  naman  gemartyrode  . 
Se  faeder  .  and  seo  modor  .  mid  mycelre  blysse  . 
gelsehton  hyre  lie  .  and  gelseddon  to  heora  agenum  . 
and  hi  Saer  bebyrigdon  .  buton  sarnysse  .  248 

and  Jjaer  gelome  wacodon  .  wurtSigende  )5a  stowe  . 
pa  on  sumere  nihte  gesawon  hi  cuman 
mycel  maedenlic  werod  .  and  agnes  tomiddes  . 
Hi  wseron  ealle  ge-glengede  mid  gyldenum  gyrlum  .  252 

and  mid  ormsetum  leohte  arwurtSlice  ferdon  . 
pa  cwse'S  seo  halige  agnes  to  hire  magum  tSus  . 
Warnia'S  pcet  ge  ne  wepon  me  swa  swa  deade  . 
dc  blyssiaS  mid  me  .  Ic  eom  Jjysum  msedenum  geferlaeht .     256 
and  ic  mid  him  under-feng  ,  swiSe  fsegere  wununga  . 
and  Sam  ic  eom  on  heofonum  gej^eodd  .  pe  ic  her  on  eortSan  lufode  . 
-^fter  Jjysum  wordum  heo  gewende  forS  mid  }5am  msedenum  . 
pa  weartS  Jjeos  gesih)7  .  switSe  gewidmsersod  .  260 

Hit  gelamp  t5a  sitStSan  aefter  lytlum  fyrste  . 
on  jjses  caseres  dagum  .  pe  constantinus  hatte  . 
pcet  sume  menn  ssedon  f)a  gesih]5e  his  dehter 
constantia  gehaten  .  seo  wees  hsetSen  ]7agit  .  364 

heo  waes  swa  j^eah  snotor  .  and  swytJe  unh4l  . 
and  on  eallum  limum  egeslice  wunda  haefde  . 
pa  ?5ohte  heo  .  pcet  heo  wolde  wacian  ane  niht 
set  agnes  byrgene  .  biddan  hire  hsele  .  268 

Heo  com  J)a  J^ider  peah  pe  heo  hsetSen  wsere  . 
and  mid  geleaf-fuUum  mode  .  to  (5am  msedene  clypode  . 
*  Leaf  45,  back. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  185 

Thee  I  confess  with  my  mouth  and  heart,  236 

and  with  all  inward  affection  Thee  I  desire, 

One  true  God,  who  reignest  with  Thy  Son 

and  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  ever  One  Almighty  God.' 

Then  the  fire  became  quenched,  so  that  not  one  coal  glowed  there, 

and  the  people  attributed  it  to  witchcraft,  241 

roaring  with  loud  clamour,  and  fierce  against  [her]  life. 

Then  Aspasius  could  not  withstand  the  great  tumult, 

but  bade  kill  her  with  death-bearing  sword,  244 

and  Christ  then  received  her,  martyred  for  His  Name. 

Her  father  and  her  mother,  with  great  joy, 

took  her  body,  and  brought  it  to  their  own  house, 

and  buried  her  there  without  sorrowing,  248 

and  there  often  watched,  venerating  the  place. 

Then  on  a  certain  night  they  saw  come 

a  great  company  of  virgins,  and  Agnes  in  the  midst; 

they  were  all  clothed  with  golden  garments,  252 

and  advanced  gloriously  with  exceeding  light. 

Then  said  the  holy  Agnes  to  her  parents  thus, 

'Beware  that  ye  weep  not  for  me  as  if  dead, 

but  rejoice  with  me,  I  am  a  companion  of  these  virgins,        256 

and  I  have  received  with  them  very  fair  habitations, 

and  I  am  associated  to  Him  in  Heaven,  whom  I  loved  here  on 

earth.' 
After  these  words  she  departed  with  the  virgins. 
Then  was  this  vision  widely  spread  abroad.  260 

Then  it  befell,  after  a  little  time, 
in  the  Emperor's  days,  who  was  called  Constantine, 
that  some  men  told  the  vision  to  his  daughter, 
called  Constantia,  who  as  yet  was  a  heathen;  264 

she  was,  notwithstanding,  wise ;    and  [was]  very  ill, 
having  fearful  wounds  in  all  her  limbs. 
Then  she  thought  that  she  would  watch  one  night 
at  Agnes'  tomb,  to  pray  for  her  healing.  268 

Then  came  she  thither,  though  she  was  a  heathen, 
and  with  believing  mind  cried  to  the  virgin 


186  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIEGINIS. 

Jje  ?Sa  byrgene  ahte  .  "pcet  heo  hyre  hsele  forgeafe  . 

Heo  wearcS  pa  on  slsepe  .  and  on  swefne  geseah  373 

\>a  eadigan  agnen  .  ]?as  word  hire  secgende  . 

Ongin  anrsedlice  Su  setSele  constantia  . 

and  gelyf  tSset  se  ^  haelend  Ipe  ge-hgelen  maege  . 

Surh  ]5one  |?u  scealt  underfon  .  cSinra  wunda  hsele  .  376 

pa  awoc  constantia  .  and  wees  swA  ge-hseled  . 

pcet  on  hire  lice  nses  gesyne  .  aht  Jjsera  sarra  wunda  . 

Heo  ferde  tSa  hdl  hdm  to  hire  fteder  . 

and  hine  geblyssode  .  and  hire  gebrotSra  .  380 

and  ealle  tSa  hired-menn  ,  for  hire  hsele  blyssodon  . 

and  se  hsetSen-scipe  wanode  .  and  godes  geleafa  weox  , 

Heo  weartS  pa  gefullod  .  swd  swd  hire  fseder  wees  . 

and  hadunga  under-feng  .  mid  fsegere  drohtnunga  .  384 

and  manega  ocSre  msedenu  .  ]5urh  hire  mserlican  ge-bysnunga  . 

forsawon  woruld-lustas  .  and  wurdon  criste  gehalgode  . 

Da  bsed  constantia  .  constantinum  hire  foeder  . 

pcet  he  J?8ere  eadigan  agne  .  ane  cyrcan  arserde  .  388 

and  hire  sylfre  ane  tJrtih  .  J^ser  h6t  gesettan  . 

pes  hlisa  asprang  Jja  on  eallum  tSam  leod-scipe  . 

and  coman  fela  untrume  to  ]?aere  halgan  byrigene  . 

and  wurdon  gehselede  .  Jjurh  tSa  halgan  agnen  .  393 

pa  roraaniscan  msedenu  manega  eac  tSurh-wunodon 

on  cloenum  mseg'Shade  .  for  cristes  lufe  . 

sefter  agnes  gebysnunga  pe  pser  bebyrged  is  . 

ALIA  SENTENTIA  QUAM   SCRIPSIT  TERRENTIANVS. 

ON   BAM   DAGUM  W^S    SVM    HEEETOGA   GEHATEN    GALlicanUS  . 
sigefsest  on  gefeohtum  .  and  ful  leof  J^am  casere  .  297 

for  his  micclan  sige  .  jjeah  J^e  he  nsere  gefullod  . 
Se  awogode  constantian  }3ses  caseres  dohtor 

on  Jjsere  tide  .  J^e  t5a  scycSiscan  swi?5e  wunnon  witS  hine  .        300 
wear's  J^a  se  casere  for  Jjsere  wogunge  astyrod  . 
wiste  pcet  seo  dohtor  .  pe  drihten  hsefde  gecoren  . 

*  Leaf  46. 


VII.    SAINT   AGVES,    VIRGIN.  187 

who  possessed  the  tomb,  that  she  would  grant  her  healing. 

Then  she  fell  on  sleep,  and  saw  in  a  vision  373 

the  blessed  Agnes  saying  these  words  to  her, 

'Begin  resolutely,  thou  noble  Constantia, 

and  believe  that  the  Saviour  has  power  to  heal  thee, 

through  Whom  thou  shalt  receive  the  healing  of  thy  wounds.' 

Then  Constantia  awoke,  and  was  so  healed  277 

that  on  her  body  was  not  seen  aught  of  the  sore  wounds. 

Then  went  she  whole  home  to  her  father, 

and  rejoiced  him  and  her  brothers,  280 

and  all  the  household  rejoiced  for  her  healing, 

and  the  heathenism  waned  and  God's  faith  waxed. 

She  was  then  baptized,  as  was  her  father, 

and  received  the  veil  with  fair  observances,  284 

and  many  other  maidens  through  her  worthy  example 

forsook  worldly  pleasures  and  were  consecrated  to  Christ. 

Then  Constantia  prayed  Constantine  her  father, 

that  he  would  rear  a  church  to  the  blessed  Agnes,  288 

and  bade  set  a  coffin  there  for  herself. 

The  fame  of  it  sprang  throughout  all  the  nation, 

and  many  infirm  people  came  to  the  holy  tomb, 

and  were  healed  through  the  holy  Agnes.  292 

Likewise  many  of  the  Roman  maidens  continued 

in  pure  virginity  for  the  love  of  Christ 

after  Agnes'  example,  who  is  there  buried. 

ANOTHER  STORY;   WRITTEN  BY  TERENTIANUS. 

In  those  days  there  was  a  certain  general  called  Gallicanus, 
victorious  in  fights,  and  very  dear  to  the  emperor  297 

for  his  great  victory,  though  he  was  not  baptized. 
He  wooed  Constantia,  the  emperor's  daughter, 
at    the   time    that    the    Scythians   were   warring    much    against 
him.  300 

Then  the  emperor  was  troubled  on  account  of  the  wooing, 
knowing  that  his  daughter,  who  had  chosen  the  Lord, 


188  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

hracSor  wolde  sweltan  Jjonne  ceorlian  . 

pa  geseah  seo  dohtor  .  hire  feeder  gedrefednysse  .  304 

and  cwsecS  him  tSus  to  .  mid  clsenum  inge-hyde  . 
Ic  w4t  Tpcet  god  nele  me  nsefre  forlsetan  . 

Awurp  l^ine  ymbhydig-nysse  .  and  behdt  me  J>am  heretogan  . 
pcet  he  me  underfo  .  aefter  cSam  ge-feohte  .  308 

sitStSan  he  (Sa  scy'StSiscan  mid  sige  ofer-wintS  . 
For  Jjysum  behate  .  ic  wille  habban  his  doh^tra  . 
attican  and  arthemian  .  to  minre  geJ>eodnysse  . 
0IS  poet  uncre  gifta  .  gegearcode  beon  .  312 

Haebbe  he  mid  him  forS  to  }33ere  fyrdincge  . 
lohannem  .  and  paulum  .  mine  tSa  ge-treowostan  . 
pcBt  hi  mine  fjeawas  magon  him  secgan  . 

and  ic  tSurh  his  dohtra  his  J^eawas  oncnawe  .  316 

Hit  weartS  swa  geddn  .  poet  heo  t5a  dohtra  under-feng  . 
and  se  heretoga  ferde  mid  |?8ere  fyrdincge  . 
|3a  gebsed  constantia  hi  to  gode  sona 

mid  mycelre  onbryrdnysse  poet  he  hire  bena  gehyrde  .  320 

Eala  tSu  aelmihtiga  god  .  pe  for  agnes  (5ingunga  . 
}?ines  mseran  martyres  .  minne  hreoflan  gehseldest  . 
and  me  sylfre  geswutelodest  .  J^inne  sot5an  lufe  . 
and  pu  behete  us  .  on  ]?inum  halgan  godspelle  .  324 

SoS  ic  eow  secge  .  eow  syltS  min  feeder  . 
swa  hwses  swa  ge  hine  bidda]?  .  her  on  minum  naman  . 
Ic  bidde  Se  min  drihten  poet  'Su  }?as  maedenu  .  pe  gestryne  . 
and  heora  feeder  gallicanum  .  ]?e  me  wile  pe  beniman  .  328 

getSeod  to  clsennysse  j^ines  geleafan  . 
Geopena  heora  heortan  earan  to  peeve  halwendan  lare  . 
poet  hi  pe  anne  lufian  .  and  eorcSlice  tSing  ne  gewilnion  . 
and  mid  beornendre  lufe  .  to  j^inum  brydbedde  becumen  .      332 
^fter  ]?ysum  gebede  gebugon  (5a  msedenu 
to  tJam  halgan  fulluhte  ser  se  faeder  come  . 
and  wurdon  gehadode  to  Jjses  hselendes  claennysse  . 
pa  com  gallicanws  eac  to  gode  gebogen  .  336 

and  hine  gebsed  sona  mid  sot5um  geleafan  . 
^  Leaf  46,  back. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  189 

would  rather  die  than  take  a  hushand. 

Then  the  daughter  saw  her  father's  trouble,  304 

and  spake  to  him  thus  with  pure  intention, 

'  I  know  that  God  will  never  forsake  me, 

cast  away  thy  solicitude,  and  promise  me  to  the  general, 

that  he  may  take  me  after  the  war,  308 

after  he  shall  by  victory  conquer  the  Scythians. 

For  sake  of  this  promise  I  will  have  his  daughters, 

Attica  and  Arthemia,  in  my  companionship, 

until  our  nuptials  are  prepared.  312 

Let  him  have  forth  with  him  on  the  expedition 

John  and  Paul,  those  who  are  most  faithful  to  me, 

that  they  may  tell  him  of  my  ways, 

and  I  through  his  daughters  will  learn  his  ways.'  316 

It  was  so  done,  that  she  took  the  daughters, 

and  the  general  departed  with  the  expedition. 

Then  straightway  Constantia  besought  God 

with  great  fervour  that  He  would  hear  her  prayers ;  320 

'  0  Thou  Almighty  God,  "Who  for  Agnes'  intercession, 

Thy  great  Martyr,  hast  healed  my  leprosy, 

and  to  myself  hast  revealed  Thy  true  love, 

and  Who  hast  promised  us  in  Thy  holy  Gospel,  324 

"Verily  I  say  unto  you.  My  Father  will  give  you 

whatsoever  ye  ask  Him  here  in  My  Name," 

I  beseech  Thee,  my  Lord,  that  Thou  wilt  gain  to  Thyself  these 

maidens, 
and  their  father  Gallicanus,  who  desireth  to  take  me  from  Thee, 
associate  (him)  to  the  purity  of  Thy  faith.  329 

Open  the  ears  of  their  hearts  to  the  salutary  lore, 
that  they  may  love  Thee  only,  and  desire  no  earthly  things, 
and  attain  with  burning  love  Thy  bridal-bed.'  332 

After  this  prayer  the  maidens  bowed 
to  holy  baptism  ere  the  father  came, 
and  were  consecrated  to  the  Saviour's  chastity. 
Then  became  Gallicanus  likewise  converted  to  God,  336 

and  straightway  prayed  with  true  faith 


190  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

set  }?ses  halgan  petres  stowe  pe  stent  binnan  rome  . 
Hine  wylcumede  se  casere  .  and  cwsetS  him  to  mid  blysse  . 
pa   (5a   pu   to   J)am   gefeohte   ferdest  .   pu   offrodost  Jjam   fulum 
deoflum  .  340 

and  nu  (Su  sigefsest  come  .  pn  ge-baede  pe  to  criste  . 
and  to  his  apostolum  .  cytS  me  hu  hit  sy  . 
pa  aleat  gallicanus  .  to  Sam  geleaf-fullan  casere  . 
and  ssede  be  endebyrdnysse  hu  he  beah  to  gode  .  344 

pa  scySSiscan  J^eoda  ofslogan  ure  fela  . 
and  ic  "wearS  belocen  on  anre  lytlan  byrig  . 
mid  hwonlicum  ^fultume  .  and  we  feohtan  ne  dorston  . 
ongean  'Sone  ormsetan  here  .  he  (sic)  hsefde  Jja  burh  beseten  . 
pa  offrode  Ic  gelome  mine  14c  Jjam  godum  .  349 

o)?J?a;^  mine  geferan  me  and  hi  betsehton  . 
Sam  onwinnendum  feondum  .  and  ic  Sa  fleames  cepte  . 
pa  cwsedon  (5a  cristenan  .  lohannes  .  and  paulus  .  352 

Behiit  |?am  heofonlicum  gode  .  pcet  Su  to  him  gebuge  . 
gif  he  pe  nu  gehelpS  .  and  Jju  hsefst  sige  . 
Ic  Sa  sona  beh6t  .  sw4  swd  J?a  halgan  me  tihton  . 
and  me  com  ]?ser-rihte  to  .  godes  encgel  ^  mid  rode  .  356 

het  me  niman  min  swurd  .  and  siSian  mid  him  . 
Ic  him  fyligde  Sa  .  and  fela  englas  coman 
on  manna  gelicnyssum^  .  mserlice  gewsepnode  . 
gehyrton  me  mid  wordum  .  and  heton  me  gdn  forS  .  360 

o'^pcet  we  becoman  Jsser  se  cyning  waes  . 
He  feoll  Sa  afyrht  .  to  minum  fotum  astreht  . 
pa  gebundon  Sa  godes  cempan  .  bardan  ]?one  cynincg  . 
and  his  twsegen  suna  .  and  betsehton  hi  me  .  364 

Ne  sloh  ic  nsenne  .  ne  of-slean  ne  h6t  . 
Nu  is  Jjin  land  gehealden  and  pa,  leoda  pe  onbugaS  . 
Ealle  Sa  heafod-menn  pe  to  me  gebugan*  . 

mid  heora  cempum  .  ic  gebigde  to  criste  .  368 

Da  oSre  ic  forseah  pe  swa  don  noldon  . 
Ic  sylf  eom  swa  cristen  .  pcet  ic  gecwseS  on  behate  . 
p(xt  ic  heonan-forS  °  nelle  habban  wifes  gemanan  . 
*  Leaf  47.      ^  0.  engel.      *  0.  gelicnysse.      *  0.  gebugon.      *  0.  heonon-fortJ, 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIRGIN.  191 

at  the  shrine  of  S.  Peter  which  stancleth  in  Rome. 

The  emperor  welcomed  him,  and  said  to  him  with  joy, 

'  When   thou  wentest  to   the   battle  thou  didst  sacrifice   to   the 

foul  devils,  34° 

and  since   thou  hast   returned   victorious,  thou   hast   prayed   to 

Christ, 
and  to  His  Apostles  ;    tell  me  how  is  this  1 ' 
Then  louted  (bowed)  Gallicanus  to  the  orthodox  Emperor, 
and  related  in  order  how  he  was  converted  to  God;  344 

'The  Scythian  people  had  slain  many  of  us, 
and  I  was  locked  up  in  a  little  town 
with  a  very  small  force,  and  we  durst  not  fight 
against  the  overwhelming  army,  which  had  besieged  the  town ; 
Then  I  offered  often  my  sacrifices  to  the  gods,  349 

until  my  colleagues  surrendered  me  and  themselves 
to  the  attacking  enemies,  and  I  then  took  to  flight. 
Then  said  the  Christians,  John  and  Paul,  352 

"  Promise  the  God  of  Heaven  that  thou  wilt  bow  to  Him, 
if  He  now  helpeth  thee,  and  thou  shalt  have  victory." 
I  then  straightway  promised,  even  as  the  holy  men  exhorted  me, 
and  there  immediately  came  to  me  God's  angel  with  a  cross, 
bidding  me  take  my  sword  and  go  with  him;  357 

thereupon  I  followed  him,  and  many  angels  came 
in  the  likeness  of  men,  gloriously  armed, 

heartened  me  with  their  words,  and  bade  me  go  forth  360 

until  we  arrived  where  the  king  was; 
then  fell  he  afrighted,  prostrate  at  my  feet; 
then  God's  champions  bound  Bardon  the  king 
and  his  two  sons,  and  delivered  them  to  me;  364 

I  slew  not  one,  nor  commanded  to  slay. 
Now  is  thy  land  preserved,  and  the  people  submit  to  thee; 
all  the  chief-men,  who  submitted  to  me, 

together  with  their  soldiers,  I  have  converted  to  Christ;  368 

the  others  who  would  not  so  do  I  contemned. 
I  myself  am  so  much  a  Christian  that  I  have  said  in  a  vow, 
that  I  henceforth  will  not  have  the  company  of  a  wife ; 


192  VII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGNETIS,    VIRGINIS. 

find  me  nu  sefter-gencgan  .  \>cet  ic  gode  meege  Jjeowian  .  372 

on  so'Sre  sewfsestnysse  sw4  ic  ]?am  selmihtigan  beh^t  . 

pa  beclypte^  se  casere  tSone  godes  cempan  . 

and  ssede  hu^  his  dohtra  drihtne  J)eowdon  . 

and  his  twa  geswustra  eac  sitStSan  gelyfdon  .  376 

pa  eodon  hi  to  healle  .  and  seo  halige  helena  com 

mid  Sam  fore-ssedum  msedenum  .  micclum  blyssigende  . 

hi  Jjurh-wunodon  on  maegtS-hade  .  maerlice  drohtniende  . 

otS  pset  hi  gewiton  of  worulde  to  criste  .  380 

Gallicanus  Ipa,  freode  fif  Jjusend  manna  . 

and  mid  aehtum  ge-welgode  and  wsedlum  todselde 

his  manig-fealdan  welan  .  and  gewende  him  jjanon  . 

to  sumum  halgan  were  .  se  hatte  hilariamts  .  384 

^mid  sumum  his  mannum  .  pe  hine  ne  mihton  forlaetan  . 

Feower  land  he  forgeaf  forcS  In  mid  him 

selj^eodigum  to  avidiencge  .  and  to  selmes-daedum  . 

pa  asprang  his  word  wide  geond  land  .  388 

hu  se  msere  man  manna  f6t  acSwoh  . 

and  wseter  bser  to  handum  .  and  mid  wistum  J^enode  . 

He  wear's  Sa  swa  halig  .  poet  he  gehselde  untrume  . 

and  swa  hraSe  sw4  he  beseah  *  .  on  Sa  wit-seocan  menu  ^  .    392 

swa  wurdon  hi  acleensode  .  fram  ]?am  unclsenan  gastum  . 

Eft  Sa  ]5a  iulianus  se  arleasa  wiSersaece  ®  . 

wearS  to  casere  gecoren  ,  J?eah  pe  he  wsere  to  preoste  bescoren  . 

pa  sette  h6  geban  .  swa  swa  he  wses  bealwes''  full  .  396 

pcet  Sa  cristenan  nahton  nan  l^incg  on  worulde  . 

adrsefde  pa,  gallicanum  Jjone  godes  man  aweg  . 

and  he  ferde  to  *  alexandrian  Jjsere  segiptiscan '  byrig  . 

^^  wende  sitSSan  "  to  westene  .  and  waes  Sser  ancra  .  400 

05  pcet  sum  hseSen-gylda  .  hine  Sser  ofsloh  . 
for)?an  pe  he  nolde  ]3am  fulum  godum  geoffrian  . 
and  he  swa  mid  sige  .  si]3ode  to  criste  . 

Eft  iulianus  se  ylca^^  wiSersaca  wolde  gebigan  .  404 

^  O.  clypode.        ^  0.  him  hu.        ^  Leaf  47,  back.        *  0.  seah.        *  0.  om. 

6  0.  wi'Ser-saca.  ''  0.  bealwos  (sic).  *  0.  tSa  to.  *  0.  egyptiscan. 
"-•»  0.  siSSan  he  gewende.           "  0.  illca. 


VII.    SAINT   AGNES,    VIEGIN.  193 

find  me  now  a  successor,  that  I  may  serve  God  372 

in  true  religion,  as  I  vowed  to  the  Almighty.' 
Then  the  emperor  embraced  the  soldier  of  God, 
and  told  him  how  his  daughters  were  serving  the  Lord, 
and  his  two  sisters  likewise  believed  afterward.  376 

Then  went  they  into  the  hall,  and  the  holy  Helena  came 
with  the  aforesaid  maidens,  greatly  rejoicing; 
they  continued  in  virginity,  leading  glorious  lives, 
until  they  departed  from  the  world  to  Christ.  380 

Then  Gallicanus  freed  five  thousand  men, 
and  endowed  them  with  goods,  and  distributed  to  the  poor 
his  manifold  riches,  and  turned  him  thence 

to  a  certain  holy  man  called  Hilarion,  384 

with  some  of  his  men  who  would  not  leave  him. 
Four  estates  he  gave  up  entirely,  together  with  himself, 
for  the  reception  of  strangers  and  for  alms-deeds. 
Then  his  fame  spread  widely  throughout  the  land,  388 

how  the  great  man  washed  men's  feet, 

and  carried  water  for  their  hands,  and  served  them  with  food. 
Then  he  grew  so  holy  that  he  healed  the  impotent, 
and  as  soon  as  he  looked  on  the  possessed,  392 

they  were  at  once  cleansed  from  the  unclean  spirits. 
Afterward  when  Julian,  the  infamous  apostate, 
was  chosen  emperor,  though  he  had  been  shorn  for  the  priest- 
hood, 
he  proclaimed  an  edict,  being  full  of  wickedness,  396 

that  the  Christians  should  own  nothing  in  the  world. 
Then  he  banished  Gallicanus  the  man  of  God; 
and  he  went  to  Alexandria,  tlie  Egyptian  city, 
going  afterward  to  the  desert,  and  was  there  an  anchorite;   40a 
until  a  certain  heathen  slew  him  there, 
because  he  would  not  sacrifice  to  the  foul  gods, 
and  so  he  departed  victoriously  to  Christ. 

After  that  Julian,  the  same  apostate,  desired  to  turn  404 

13 


194  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGATHE,    VIEGINIS. 

ba  halgan  gebroSra  .  lohannem  .  and  paulum  .  to  his  h3e(5en- 

gilde  ^  . 
ac  IpiuSa  li6  ne  mibte  pa  mserau  godes  tSegnas 
to  his  hirede  aspanan  .  ne  to  his  haetSenscipe  ^  .  geweman  . 
J)a  sende  he  him  to  sumne  hseSenne  wer  .  408 

terrentianus  gehaten  .  se  haefde  mid  him 
ane  gyldene  anlicnysse  .  and  cwsetS  to  tSam  godes  niannum  . 
Ure  hlaford  lulianus  .  het  eow  ge-biddan 

to  ]?yssere  anlicnysse  .  oStSe  ic  inc  begen  ofslea  .  412  • 

pa  cwsedon  Jsa  halgan  .  ne  cunne  we  nanne  god  . 
buton  faeder  and  sunu  .  and  ]3one  halgan  gast  . 
]?yssere  halgan  Srynnysse  beef's  pin  hlaford  wiSsacen  . 
and  wile  ocSre  geweman  mid  him  to  forwyrde  .  416 

Hweet  tSa  terrentianus  .  het  ]?a  twsegen  gebroSra 
digellice  beheafdian  .  and  on  heora  huse  bebyrigan  . 
pa  wear's  iulianus  .  for  his  wselhreownysse 

sona  ]3ses  ofslsegsen  .  ]3urh  sanctei,  marian  heese  .  420 

and  cristen-dom  waes  j^eonde  .  and  pa  halgan  wurdon  ge^cydde  . 
swa  pcet  wode  menn  .  wurdon  gehselede  . 
on  'Sam  ylcan  huse  .  pe  pa  halgan  onlagon  . 
and  terrentianes  sunu  .  mid  sweartum  deofle  afylled  .  424 

am  to  heora  byrgenum  .  egeslice  wedende  . 
and  se  faeder  sona  gesohte  j^a  byrigena  . 
anddette  his  synne  pcet  he  ofsloh  'Sa  halgan  . 
and  wear's  gefullod  .  and  his  suna  wittig  .  428 

l^am  hselende  to  lofe  .  pe  leofaS  4  on  ecnysse  .  Amen. 

YIII. 

NONZ;S  FimRUAEIIS.     NAT^L^  8AFCTE  AGATHE 
UIRGIN/aS. 

[The  other  copy,  in  MS.  V.,  is  destroyed.] 

A   GATHES   W^S   GEICGED    SUM   GE-S.<ELIG   M^DEN 

■^  ON  SiErse  scyre  sicilia  .  suotor  and  gelyfed  . 

on  'Sam  timan  J^e  quintianus  se  cwealm-bsere  ehtere  . 

'  0.  hffi'Senscipe.  '^  O.  hajSengilde.  ^  Leaf  48. 


VIII.    SAINT   AGATHA,   VIRGIN.  195 

the  holy  brothers,  John  and  Paul,  to  his  idolatry, 

but  when  he  could  not  entice  these  great  servants  of  God 

to  his  court,  nor  persuade  them  to  his  heathenism, 

then  he  sent  to  them  a  certain  heathen  man,  408. 

called  Terentianus,  who  had  with  him 

a  golden  image,  and  said  to  the  servants  of  God, 

'  Our  lord  Julian  commandeth  you  to  pray 

to  this  image,  or  I  must  slay  you  both.'  412 

Then  said  the  saints,  'We  know  no  God 

save  the  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost; 

from  this  Holy  Trinity  thy  lord  hath  apostatized, 

and  desireth  to  entice  others  to  perdition  with  himself.'  416 

Lo  then  !    Terentianus  commanded  men  to  behead  secretly 

the  two  brothers,  and  to  bury  them  in  their  house. 

Then  was  Julian,  for  his  cruelty, 

soon  after  this,  slain  at  Saint  Mary's  hest\  420 

and  Christianity  flourished,  and  those  saints  were  made  known, 

so  that  madmen  were  healed 

in  the  same  house  wherein  the  saints  lay, 

and  Terentianus'  son,  filled  with  a  black  devil,  424 

ran  to  their  biu"ial-place,  awfully  raving, 

and  the  father  immediately  sought  the  sepulchres, 

and  confessed  his  sin,  in  that  he  had  slain  the  saints, 

and  was  baptized,  and  his  son  became  in  his  right  mind,       428 

to  the  praise  of  the  Saviour  who  liveth  for  ever.     AMEN. 


VIII. 

FEBRUARY  V.     SAINT  AGATHA,  VIRGIN. 

There  was  a  certain  noble  maiden  named  Agatha 

in  the  province  of  Sicily,  wise  and  faithful, 

at  the  time  when  Quintianus,  the  murderous  persecutor, 

^  See  above,  pp.  64-66. 

13-2 


196  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE    AGATHE,    VIRGINIS. 

bsere  scyre  geweold  wselhreowlice  under  }?am  casere  .  4 

Se  wses  graedig  gitsere  ,  and  his  galnysse  under]?eod  . 

deofles  Jjeowet-lincg  .  and  drihten  onscunode  . 

pa  com  him  to  earan  be  Agathes  drohtnunge  , 

and  smeade  hu  he  mihte  pcet  mseden  him  begitan  .  8 

h^t  hi  J)a  gefeccan  .  and  betsehte  hi  anum  fulum  wife  . 

afrodosia  geciged  .  sceand-lic  on  Jseawum  . 

Seo  hsefde  nigon  dohtra  .  nahtlice  and  fracode  . 

hoet  heo  geond  J)rittig  nihte  hire  )5eawas  leornode  .  12 

and  hire  mod  awende  J>urh  J?8era  myltestrena  forspennincgse  . 

Hwset  tSa  affrodosia  se  fraeedosta  wimman  . 

mid  hire  nigon  dohtrum  gedrehte  agathen  . 

hwilon  olecende  .  hwilon  egsigende  .  16 

wende  ])cet  heo  mihte  hire  mod  awendan  . 

pa  cwaetS  agathes  .  to  J)am  yfelan  teame  . 

Eower  word  syndon  winde  gelice  . 

ac  hi  ne  magon  afyllan  min  fsestrsede  ge]?anc  .  20 

Ipe  is  gegrund-sta]?elod  ^ . 

Sis  heo  cwseS  mid  wope  .  and  gewilnode  to  tSrowigenne 

for  cristes  naman  .  ]?a  cwealm-bseran  wita  . 

swd  sw4  se  Jjurstiga  .  on  tSsere  sunnan  hsetan  24 

gewilnatS  wylsprincges  .  oSSe  wseteres  celincge  . 

pa  geseah  affrodosia  .  \)cet  heo  J)8ere  femnan  mod 

gebigan  ne  mihte  .  mid  hyre  bismorfullura  tihtincgum  . 

and  ferde  to  quintiane  and  cwoe'S  him  Jjus  to  .  28 

Stanas  magon  hnexian  .  and  pcet  starce  isen 

on  leades  gelicnysse  .  serSan  pe  se  geleafa  msege 

of  agathes  ^  breoste  .  beon  gefre  adwsesced  . 

Ic  and  mine  dohtra  .  dseges  .  and  nihtes  .  32 

naht  elles  ne  drugon  .  baton  hi  sefre  tihton  . 

to  Jjinre  ge]3afunga  .  peah  'Se  us  hwonlice  speowe  . 

Ic  hire  bead  gyramas  .  and  gyrlan  of  golde  . 

and  oSre  mserSa  .  and  msere  gebytlu  .  36 

*  The  line  seems  imperfect. 
^  Leaf  48,  back. 


VIII.    SAINT   AGATHA,   VIRGIN.  197 

cruelly  governed  the  province  under  the  Emperor.  4 

He  was  a  greedy  miser,  and  suhject  to  his  lusts, 

the  devil's  slave,  despising  God. 

Then  it  came  to  his  ears  concerning  Agatha's  conduct, 

and  he  sought  how  he  might  get  the  maiden  for  himself.  8 

He  commanded  her  to   be  fetched,  and  delivered  her  to  a  foul 

woman, 
called  Aphrodosia,  shameful  in  morals, 
who  had  nine  daughters,  naughty  and  vile, 
that   she   (Agatha)  might  learn  during  thirty  nights  [a   month] 

her  (Aphrodosia' s)  evil  ways,  12 

and  might  be  perverted  in  mind  by  the  enticements  of  harlots. 
So  then  Aphrodosia,  that  wickedest  woman, 
with  her  nine  daughters,  vexed  Agatha, 

sometimes  flattering,  sometimes  terrifying,  16 

thinking  that  she  might  pervert  her  mind. 
Then  said  Agatha  to  the  wicked  team, 
*  Your  words  are  like  wind, 

but  they  cannot  defile  my  steadfast  will,  20 

which  is  grounded  immutably;' 
this  she  said  with  weeping,  and  desired  to  suflFer 
the  deadly  tortures  for  Christ's  name, 

even  as  a  thirsty  man  in  the  sun's  heat  24 

desireth  well-springs,  or  the  cooling  of  water. 
Then  Aphrodosia  saw  that  she  could  not  bend 
the  woman's  mind  by  her  shameful  persuasions, 
and  went  to  Quintianus,  and  spake  to  him  thus ;  28 

'Stones  may  soften,  and  hard  iron 
become  like  lead,  or  ever  the  faith 
in  Agatha's  breast  can  be  extinguished. 

I  and  my  daughters  day  and  night  32 

have  done  nothing  else  but  continually  persuade  her 
to  consent  to  thee,  but  we  have  had  little  speed; 
I  promised  her  gems  and  golden  apparel, 
and  other  honours  and  a  great  house,  36 


198  VIII.   NATALE    SANCTE    AGATHE,    VIllGINIS. 

hamas  .  and  hjrred  .  and  heo  pcet  call  forseah 

on  meoxes  gelicnysse  .  pe  \iS  under  fotum  . 

pa  yrsode  quintianus  .  and  h^t  hi  ardlice  feccan  . 

befr^n  hi  Sa  set  fruman  .  be.  hyre  gebyrdum  .  40 

Agathes  J)a  cwsetS  .  ic  eom  secSelborenre  msegtSe  . 

awk  Bwi  call  min  mseg'S  me  is  to  witan  . 

Da  cwsetS  se  dema  .  Hwi  dest  J?u  ?5e  sylfe  . 

Surh  wace  Jieawas  .  swilce  J?u  wyln  sy  .  44 

Agathes  andwyrie  .  Ic  eom  godes  ]?inen  . 

and  mycel  setSelborennys  .  bitS  pcet  man  be  cristes  tSeow  . 

Quintianus  cwsecS  to  f)am  cristes  msedene  . 

Hwset  la  neebbe  w^  nane  sej^elborennysse  48 

fortSan  J)e  we  forseoS  J)ines  cristes  Seow-dom  . 

Agathes  awcZwyrde  Jjam  arleasan  and  cwae'S  . 

Eower  se'Selborennys  becymS  to  swa  bysmorfullura  hseftnede  . 

pcet  ge  beocS  Jseowan  synne  and  stanum  .  52 

Quintianus  cwsecS  .  J^a  cwealm-baeran  wita 

magon  eatSelice  gewrecan  . 

swa  hwset  swa  t5u  mid  wedendum  muSe  tselst  . 

sege  swa  J)eah  .  ser  'Su  becume  to  j^am  fore-ssedum  witum  .     56 

hwi  tSu  ure  goda  {sic)  biggencgas  forseo  . 

Agathes  ancZwyrde  .  paxn  drleasan  tSus  . 

Ne  cwaetS  pn  na  goda  .  ac  gram-licra  deofla  . 

Jjaera  anlicnysse  ge  awendaS  on  are  .  and  on  stanum  .  60 

and  ealle  tJa  graeftas  ofer-gylda'S  .  mid  crsefte  . 

Quintianus  pa,  cwse'S  .  pcet  heo  gecure  otSer  tJsera  . 

swa  heo  mid  fordemdum  dyslice  for-ferde  . 

Bwa  heo  Jjam  godum  geoflFrode  .  swa  swa  8e?5elboren  and  wis  .  64 

Agathes  him  ancZwyrde  anrsedlice  and  cwsecS  . 

Beo  J?in  wif  swylc  swa  uenus  .  J)in  fule  gyden  wses  . 

and  beo  tSu  swylc  swa  louis  .  Jjin  sceand-lica  god  wses  . 

p(^t  git  magon  beon  getealde  .  eac  betwux  |3am  godum  .  68 

pa  h6t  quintianus  .  hi  mid  handum  slean 

gelome  on  pcet  hleor  .  pcet  heo  hlydan  ne  sceolde  . 

Da  cweetS  agathes  eft  tSa  ylcan  word  . 


VIII.    SAINT   AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  199 

estates  and  servants,  and  she  despised  them  all 

even  as  dung  which  lieth  under  foot.' 

Then  Quintianus  became  angry  and  bade  fetch  her  quickly, 

and  questioned  her  first  concerning  her  parentage,  40 

Agatha  thereupon  answered ;    *  I  am  of  noble  race, 

even  as  all  my  kindred  can  bear  me  witness.' 

Then  said  the  judge,  '  why  destroyest  thou  thyself 

by  mean  usages,  as  if  thou  wert  a  bondmaid  V  44 

Agatha  answered,  '  I  am  God's  handmaid, 

and  great  nobility  is  it  to  be  Christ's  servant.' 

Quintianus  said  to  the  virgin  of  Christ, 

'What  then?    have  we  no  nobility,  48 

merely  because  we  despise  thy  Christ's  servitude  V 

Agatha  answered  the  impious  man,  and  said ; 

'  Your  nobility  turneth  to  such  shameful  bondage, 

that  ye  are  the  servants  of  sin  and  of  stones.'  52 

Quintianus,  the  murderous  tormentor,  said, 

'  We  may  easily  wreak 

whatsoever  thou  mockest  with  insane  mouth, 

Say,  nevertheless,  ere  thou  come  to  the  aforesaid  tortures,        56 

why  thou  despisest  the  worship  of  our  gods'?' 

Agatha  answered  the  impious  man  thus; 

'  Speak  thou  not  of  gods  but  of  cruel  devils, 

whose  likenesses  ye  make  in  brass  and  stone,  60 

and  skilfully  gild  over  all  the  graven  images.' 

Quintianus  then  said  that  she  must  choose  one  of  two  things, 

either  she  must  die  in  her  folly  with  condemned  (felons), 

or  she  must  sacrifice  to  the  gods  like  a  noble  and  wise  maiden. 

Agatha  answered  him  resolutely,  and  said,  65 

*Be  thy  wife  such  as  was  Venus,  thy  foul  goddess, 

and  be  thou  such  as  Jove  was,  thy  shameful  god, 

that  ye  two  may  also  be  numbered  amongst  the  gods.'  68 

Then  bade  Quintianus  to  strike  her  with  the  hands 

repeatedly  on  the  face,  that  she  might  not  declaim. 

Then  again  Agatha  said  the  same  words. 


200  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE    AGATHE,    VIllGINIS. 

Quintianus  cwsec?  .  ^}5U  cysf^  pcet  tSu  gecure  72 

Jja  tintregu  to  tSrowigenne  .  nu  ]?u  minne  teonan  ge-edlecst  . 
pset  mseden  him  awcZwyrde  .  micclum  ic  wundrie 
pe  snoterne  mannan  .  to  swa  micclum  dysige  gebigedne  . 
pcet   tSu   swylce   for   godas   hsefst   .  Jje   Se   sceamatS   to   ge-euen- 
Isecenne  .  76 

Gif  hi  soSa  godes  (sic)  synd  .  godes  ic  j^e  gewisce  . 
gif  pn  hi  onscunast  wit  cweSaJ)  Jjonne  ku  . 
Hat  hi  swa  yfele  .  and  swa  unclsene  . 

Tpcet  gif  t5u  hwylcne  wyrige  .  pcet  Su  gewisce  him  j^ses  .  80 

Ipcet  his  lif  beo  gelic  J)inum  laSum  godum  . 
Quintianus  hire  cwaeS  to  .  Hwi  clypast  ?Su  swa  fela  ideles  . 
geoffra  tSam  godum  .  pcet  ic  'Se  gram-lice  ne  fordo  . 
Da  andwyrde  agathes  .  unforht  J^am  deman  .  84 

Gif  (Su  mid  wild-deorum  me  nu  bsetan  wylt  . 
hi  beoS  sona  hand-tame  .  Jjurh  j^ses  hselendes  naman  . 
Gif  ]?u  me  fyr  gearcost  .  me  cymS  faer-lice  of  heofonum  . 
halwendlic  deaw  .  jjurh  drihtnes  senglas.  88 

Gif  tSu  me  swingla  behgetst  .  ic  hsebbe  Jjone  halgan  gast  . 
Jjurh  Sone  ic  forseo  ealle  ]?ine  swingla  . 
J)a  cwehte  se  dema  his  deoflice  heafod  . 

and  h^t  hi  gebringan  on  anum  blindum  cwearterne  .  92 

and  het  pcet  heo  sceolde  hi  sylfe  bej^encan  . 
hu  heo  mihte  aet-windan  Jsam  wselhreowum  tintregum  . 
Da  cwsecS  agathes  .  pu  earmingc  be'Senc  pe 

hu  'Su  msege  set-windan  tSam  ecum  witum  .  96 

Eode  pa,  bli'Selice  to  Sam  blindum  cwearterne  . 
swylce  heo  Wsere  gelaSod  .  to  lustfullum  beor-scype  . 
and  betsehte  hire  gewin  J)ara  wel-wyllendan  drihtne  . 
Hwaet  tSa  on  mergen  se  manfuUa  dema  100 

het  Agathen  gelaedan  to  his  lacSan  awc^werdnysse  . 
and  befrdn  hwset  heo  smeade  be  hyre  gesundfulnysse  . 
Agathes  him  cwoeS  to  .  Crist  me  is  for  hsele  . 

'  Leaf  49. 

'  Bead  cwyst,  i.  e.  sayest. 


VIII.    SAINT    AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  201 

Quintianus  said,  '  Thod  sayest  that  thou  hast  chosen  72 

to  suffer  the  tortures,  since  thou  repeatest  insults  against  me.' 

The  maiden  answered  him,  'Greatly  I  wonder 

that  thou,  a  wise  man,  hast  stooped  to  such  folly, 

that  thou  esteemest  as  gods  such  as  it  shameth  thee  to  resemble. 

If  they  be  true  gods,  I  wish  thee  to  be  as  a  god,  77 

if  thou  dost  abhor  them,  then  we  two  speak  alike. 

Call  them  so  evil  and  so  unclean, 

that  if  thou  wouldest  curse  any  one,  thou  shouldest  wish  him  thus, 

that  his  life  be  like  to  thy  loathly  gods.'  81 

Quintianus  said  to  her,  '  "Why  speakest  thou  so  much  idle  talk  1 

Sacrifice  to  the  gods,  that  I  may  not  cruelly  destroy  thee.' 

Then  Agatha  answered  the  judge  fearlessly,  84 

*If  thou  wilt  now  bait  me  with  wild  beasts, 

they  shall  straightway  be  tamed  to  my  hand  through  the  name 

of  Jesus. 
If  thou  preparest  fire  for   me,   there  shall   suddenly  come  to  me 

from  heaven 
a  healing  dew  by  the  Lord's  angels.  88 

If  thou  orderest  me  stripes,  I  have  the  Holy  Spirit 
through  whom  I  despise  all  thy  stripes.' 
Then  the  judge  shook  his  fiendish  head, 

and  commanded  to  bring  her  into  a  dark  prison,  92 

and  bade  that  she  should  bethink  herself 
how  she  might  escape  from  the  cruel  tortures. 
Then  said  Agatha,  'Thou,  miserable,  bethink  thyself 
how  thou  mayest  escape  the  everlasting  torments.'  96 

Then  went  she  blithely  into  tlie  dark  dungeon, 
as  if  she  were  invited  to  a  pleasant  banquet, 
and  committed  her  conflict  to  the  benevolent  Lord. 
So  then  in  the  morning  the  wicked  judge  100 

bade  Agatha  to  be  brought  into  his  hateful  presence, 
and  enquired  what  she  had  devised  for  her  safety. 
Agatha  said  to  him,  '  Christ  is  my  salvation.' 


203  VIII,    NATALE    SANCTE   AGATHE,    VIRGINIS. 

Se  dema  axode  .   hu  lange  wylt  'Su  ungeSselige  104 

ateon  }3as  ydelnysse  .  mid  cristes  andetnysse  . 
wi?5-sac  Sinne  crist  .  and  clypa  to  ]3ain  godum  . 
J?e  laes  'Se  J)u  Sin  lif  forlsete  on  iugocSe  . 

Agathes  andwyrde  anfealdlice  and  cwseS  .  108 

Wi'S-sac  Su  J?ine  godas  .  J?e  synd  stsenene  .  and  treowene  . 
and  gebide  pe  to  }?inum  scyppende  .  pe  so'Slice  aleofaS 
^  gif  tSu  hine  forsilist  .  pu  scealt  on  ecum  witum  tSrowian  . 
pa    weartS    se    arleasa    gehathyrt    .    and    h6t    hi    on    hencgene 
a-streccan  .  112 

and  Srawan  swa  swa  wiSSan  wa^lhreowlice  and  cwaeS  . 
forlset  j^ine  anwylnysse  .  pcet  Sinum  life  beo  geborgen  . 
Agathes  andwyrde  on  Sa;re  hencgene  |7us  . 

Swa  ic  lust-fullige  on  J^isum  laSum  witum  .  116 

swa  swa  se  Se  gesihcS  .  |?one  pe  he  gewilnode  . 
otSSe  se  pe  fint  fela  gold-hordas  . 

Ne  mseg  min  sawl  beon  gebroht  mid  blysse  to  heofonum  . 
butan  min  lichama  beo  on  J^inum  bendum  genyrwod  .  120 

and  fram  tSinum  cwellerum  on  J^inum  copsum  agrapod  . 
pa  gebealh  hine  se  wselhreowa  and  het  hi  gewriSan 
on  Sam  breoste  mid  peeve  hencgene  and  het  siSSan  ofaceorfan  . 
Agathes  him  cwaeS  to  .  Eala  tSu  arleasosta  124 

ne  sceamode  p^  to  ceorfanne  pcet  pcet  Su  sylf  suce  . 
ac  ic  habbe  mine  breost  on  minre  sawle  .  ansunde  . 
mid  J3am  tSe  Ic  min  andgit  eallunga  afede  . 

Quintianus  Sa  h^t  hi  to  cwearterne  gelaedan  .  128 

and  het  hire  ofteon  .  setes  .  and  wsetes  . 
and  cwse'S  pcet  nan  Isece  hi  Ucnian  ne  moste  . 
p]fne  Sa  on  middre  nihte  com  sum  harwencge  mann 
Into  ]3am  cwearterne  .  and  his  cnapa  him  setforan  .  132 

haefde  leohtfsefc  on  handa  .  wolde  Jja  halgan  gelacnian  . 
Seo  eadige  agathes  cwsetS  to  Sam  laece  . 
Ne  gymde  Ic  nanes  Isece-crseftas  nsefre  on  minum  life , 
ic  hsebbe  minne  hoelend  pe  gehseltJ  mid  his  worde  .  136 

he  meeg  gif  he  wyle  .  mihtelice  me  gehaelan  . 

*  Leaf  ,49,  back. 


VIII.    SAINT    AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  203 

The  judge  asked,  'How  long  wilt  thou,  unhappy,  104 

protract  this  vanity  by  confessing  Christ  1 
Kenounce  thy  Christ,  and  call  upon  the  gods, 
lest  thou  lose  thy  life  in  thy  youth.' 

Agatha  answered  simply,  and  said,  108 

'  Renounce  thou  thy  gods  which  are  of  stone  and  wood, 
and  pray  to  thy  Creator  who  truly  liveth ; 
if  thou  despisest  Him,  thou  shalt  suffer  in  eternal  torments.' 
Then  the  impious  man   became   incensed,  and   bade   stretch    her 
on  the  rack,  112 

and  cruelly  twist  her  like  a  withy-rope,  and  said, 
'  Forsake  thy  self-will,  that  thy  life  may  be  saved.' 
Agatha  answered  oh  the  rack  thus, 

'So  greatly  I  rejoice  in  these  painful  torments  116 

even  as  he  that  seeth  him  whom  he  hath  desired, 
or  as  he  that  findeth  many  hoards  of  gold. 
My  soul  cannot  be  brought  with  joy  to  Heaven 
except  my  body  be  cramped  in  thy  bonds,  120 

and  by  the  executioners  be  gripped  in  thy  fetters.' 
Then  raged  the  cruel  one,  and  bade  men  torture  her 
on  the  breast  in  the  rack,  and  bade  it  afterward  be  cut  off. 
Agatha  said  to  him,  '0  thou  most  wicked!  124 

art  thou  not  ashamed  to  cut  off  that  which  thou  thyself  hast  sucked? 
but  I  have  my  breast  sound  in  my  soul, 
with  which  I  shall  at  any  rate  feed  my  understanding.' 
Then  Quintianus  bade  them  conduct  her  to  prison,  128 

and  bade  them  deprive  her  of  food  and  drink, 
and  said  that  no  leech  should  be  permitted  to  cure  her. 
Lo  then  !   at  midnight  came  a  hoar-haired  man  ^ 
into  the  prison,  and  his  servant  before  him,  132 

having  a  lamp  in  his  hands,  desiring  to  heal  the  saint. 
The  blessed  Agatha  said  to  the  leech, 
*I  never  cared  for  any  leechcraft  in  my  life, 
I  have  my  Jesus  who  healeth  me  by  His  "Word;  136 

He  can,  if  He  will,  mightily  heal  me.' 

1  St.  Peter. 


204  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE   AGATITE^    VIRGINIS. 

pa  cwoe'5  se  harwencga  .  he  me  sende  to  'Se  . 

Ic  eom  his  apostol  .  and  'Su  efne  nu  bist 

hal  on  his  naman  .  and  he  sona  ferde  .  140 

pa  cneowode  Agathes  .  and.  (Sancode  crista 

pcet  he  hi  genmnde  .  and  his  mgeran  apostol 

to  hire  asende  .  mid  swylcum  frofre  . 

^Efter  '5am  gebede  .  beseah  to  hyre  breoste  .  144 

and  waes  pcet  corfene  breost  .  J)urh  crist  ge-edsta(5elod  . 

and  ealle  hii-e  wunda  wurdon  gehselede  . 

peer  scean  'Sa  mycel  leoht  .  on  Jjam  sweartum  cwearterne  . 

swa  pcet  'Sa  weardas  flugon  .  mid  fyrhte  fornumene  .  148 

pa  tihHon  ]?a  heefthngas  .  Ipcet  halige  mseden  . 

pcet  heo  awseg  eode  .  and  'Sa  wita  for-fluge  . 

pa  cwse'S  agathes  Ipcet  se'Sele  mseden  . 

I^elle  ic  amyrran  mine  kynehehn  .  152 

ne  Sa  weardas  geswencan  .  ac  ic  |?urh-wunige  her  . 

pa  on  'Sam  fiftan  dgege  het  se  dema  hi  gefeccan  . 

and  cwfc'S  pcet  heo  sceolde  J^am  godum  geoffrian  . 

oS'Se  mid  teartum  witum  getintregod  beon  .  156 

pa  cwseS  Agathes  .  Ipn  earma  andgit-leasa,  . 

hwa  wyle  clypian  to  stane  .   and  na  to  j^am  soSan  gode  . 

^e  me  fram  eallum  J?am  witum  .  pe  Su  wselhreowlice  . 

on  minum  lice  gefsestnodest  .  for  his  naman  gehselde  .  160 

and  min  breost  ge-edstaSelode  .  pe  'Sti  arleasa  forcurfe  . 

pa  befrdn  se  hseSen-gylda  .  hwa  hi  gehselde  . 

Agathes  cwseS  .  Crist  godes  sunu  . 

Quintianus  cwojS  .  to  'Sam  clsenum  msedene  .  164 

git  ]3U  namast  crist  1    Heo  cwseS  him  to  andswsire  . 

Crist  ic  andette  .  mid  welerum  ,  and   sefre  mid  heortan  to  him 

clypige  . 
Da  cwoe'S  .  se  deofles  pen  .  nu  ic  sceal  geseon  . 
gif  crist  'Se  gehselS  .  het  Sa  streowian  geond  pa  flor  .  168 

fela  byrnenda  gleda  .  and  to-brysede  tigelan  . 
and  hi  swd  nacode  het  wylian  on  ]5am  fyre  . 
pa  wearS  mycel  eor'S-styrung  .  on  Ssere  ylcan  stowe  . 

*  Leaf  50. 


VIII.    SA[NT    AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  205 

Then  said  the  hoar-haired  man,  '  He  sent  me  to  thee, 

I  am  His  Apostle,  and  behold  now  thou  art 

made  whole  in  His  name ' ;  and  forthwith  he  departed,  140 

Then  Agatha  knelt  and  thanked  Christ, 

that  He  had  remembered  her,  and  His  great  Apostle 

had  sent  to  her,  with  such  consolation. 

After  that  prayer  she  looked  at  her  breast,  144 

and  the  breast  that  had  been  cut  off  was  restored  through  Christ, 

and  all  her  wounds  were  healed. 

Then  shone  there  a  great  light  in  the  dark  prison, 

so  that  the  warders  fled,  seized  with  fright.  148 

Then  the  prisoners  urged  the  holy  maiden 

that  she  should  go  away,  and  flee  from  the  torments. 

Then  said  Agatha,  the  noble  maiden, 

*I  will  not  mar  my  crown,  152 

nor  bring  the  warders  into  trouble,  but  I  will  continue  here.' 

Then  on  the  fifth  day  tlie  judge  commanded  to  fetch  her, 

and  said  that  she  should  sacrifice  to  the  gods, 

or  else  be  tortured  with  sharp  punishments.  156 

Then  said  Agatha,  '  Thou  poor  senseless  man, 

who  will  cry  to  the  stone,  and  not  to  the  true  God 

who,  from  all  the  tortures  which  thou  so  cruelly 

hast  inflicted  on  my  body,  hath  healed  me  for  His  name's  sake, 

and  hath  restored  my  breast  which  thou,  wicked  one,  didst  cut  off"?' 

Then  the  idolater  enquired  who  had  healed  her? 

Agatha  answered,  '  Christ  the  Son  of  God.' 

Quintianus  said  to  the  pui*e  maiden,  164 

'  Dost  thou  yet  name  Christ  ? '     She  said  to  him  in  answer, 

'Christ  I  confess  with  my  lips  and  ever  call  upon  Him  with 

my  heart.' 
Then  said  the  servant  of  the  devil,  'Now  shall  I  see 
whether   Christ  will  save  thee;'    then   he  commanded   to   strew 

upon  the  floor  168 

many  burning  coals  and  broken  tiles, 
and  bade  them  thus  roll  her  naked  into  the  fire. 
Then  was  there  a  great  earthquake  in  that  same  place. 


208  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE    AGATHE,   VIRGINIS. 

and  feol  se  stsenene  w&h  .  uppan  ]?0es  stuntan  rsed-boran  .      172 
pcet  he  jellto-cwysde  .  and  sum  o|?er  cniht  samod  . 
swySe  rihtlice  sw4  .  for'San  ]?e  hi  raed-boran  wseran 
]38es  arleasajj  deman  .  to  his.yfelum  dsedum  , 
Eac  swylce  seo  burh  eall  byuigende  stod  176 

for  Ssere  eor'S-styrunge  .  and  arn  seo  burhwaru 
endemes  to  J^am  arleasan  .  axiende  mid  gehlyde  . 
hwi  h6  Ipcet  godes  mseden  .  swa  gramlice  tintregode  . 
pa  fleah  quintianus  .  afyrht  for  'Sam  gehlyde  .  180 

and  eac  seo  eorS-styrung  hine  ge-egsode  j^earle  . 
het  swa  Jseah  hi  gebringan  binnan  Sam  cwearterne  . 
Hwset  t5a  Agathes  inwerdlice  clypode  . 

mid  astrehtum  handum  to  pam.  haelende  J)us  .  184 

Eala  Su  min  drihten  .  pe  me  to  menn  gesceope  . 
and  sefre  fram  cyldhade  me  gescyldest  ofj^is  {sic)  ^  . 
pn  pe  woruldlice  lufe  awendest  fram  me  , 

^]?u  tSe  dydest  pcet  ic  ofer-com  J?8es  cAvelleres  tintregu  .  188 

scearp  isen  .  and  fyr  .  and  pa  slitendan  clawa  . 
J)u  tSe  me  on  }?am  witum  gejjyld  forgeafe  . 
tSe  ic  bidde  drihten  .  pcet  'Su  minne  gast 

nu  to  pe  genime  .  for'San  pe  nu  is  tima  .  192 

pcet  ic  ]?as  woruld  forlaete  .  and  to  j^inre  li'San  miltheortnysse 
becuman  mote  .  min  leofa  drihten  . 
^fter  ]?ysum  gebede  binnan  J)am  cwearterne 
heo  ageaf  hire  gast  .  and  to  gode  siSode  .  196 

pa  com  seo  burh-waru  .  and  bebyrigde  hire  lie 
mid  mycelre  arwurS-nysse  .  on  eall  niwere  Jjryh  . 
paer  com  'Sa  godes  encgel  gangende  swa  swa  mann  . 
pam  fyligdan  set  fotum  fela  wlitige  cnapan  .  200 

and  sette  enne  marnistdn  set  psea  msedenes  heafde 
binnan  |38ere  ]?ryh  ,  Jjysum  wordum  awritene  . 
Mentem  sanctaw  spontaneam  honoreva.  deo  .  et  patrie  liberationem. 
pcet    is    on   englisc    .    halig   mod    .    sylfwille    wurSmynt   .   J)am 
w61-wyllendan  gode  .  and  eaixles  alysednyss  .  204 

'  Perhaps  read  o3  J)is,  or  o^  psBS. 
*  Leaf  50,  back. 


VIII.    SAINT    AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  207 

and  the  stone  wall  fell  upon  the  foolish  counsellor,  172 

Eo  that  he  was  all  crushed  to  pieces,  and  another  man  with  him ; 

very  rightly  so,  because  they  had  been  advisers 

of  the  wicked  judge  to  his  evil  deeds. 

Likewise  the  city  stood  all  shaking  176 

by  reason  of  the  earthquake,  and  all  the  citizens  ran 

together  to  the  wicked  judge,  asking  with  clamour 

why  he  had  so  cruelly  tortured  the  virgin  of  God  1 

Then  fled  Quintianus  affrighted  because  of  the  tumult,  180 

and  also  the  earthquake  exceedingly  terrified  him ; 

nevertheless  he  bade  men  bring  her  into  the  prison. 

Lo  then  !    Agatha  cried  inwardly 

with  outstretched  hands  to  the  Saviour  thus:  184 

'  0  Thou  my  Lord,  who  hast  created  me  in  human  form, 

and  ever  from  childhood  hast  shielded  me  until  now ; 

Thou  who  hast  turued  away  earthly  love  from  me. 

Thou  who  didst  cause  me  to  overcome  the  murderer's  torments, 

sharp  iron,  and  fire,  and  the  slitting  claws,  189 

who  gavest  me  patience  in  the  torments; 

I  pray  Thee,  Lord,  that  Thou  wilt  now  take 

my  spirit  unto  Thee,  for  it  is  now  time  192 

that  I  should  leave  this  world,  and  should  so  come 

to  Thy  sweet  mercy,  my  dear  Lord.' 

After  this  prayer  within  the  dungeon 

she  gave  up  her  spirit,  and  departed  to  God.  196 

Then  came  the  citizens,  and  buried  her  body 

with  great  honour  in  an  entirely  new  coffin. 

Then  came  there  an  angel  of  God,  walking  like  a  man, 

close  at  whose  feet  followed  many  shining  youths,  200 

and  set  a  marble  stone  at  the  maiden's  head 

within  the  coffin,  inscribed  with  these  words, 

*  Mentem    sanctam    sjyontaneam,    honorem    deo,    et   patrie   lihera- 

tionem.^ 
That  is  in  English,  'A  mind  spontaneously  holy,  an  honour  to 
the  benevolent  God,  and  deliverance  to  her  country.'   204 


208  VIII.    NATALE    SANCTE    AGATHE,    VIEGINIS. 

pa  awende  se  encgel  aweg  mid  }7am  cnapum  . 

and  nes  se  mann  on  J?9ere  scire  pe  hi  gesawe  8er]?4n  . 

Hwset  Sa  quintianus  cristes  wiSer-winna  . 

ferde  on  scipe  .  ofer  semithetuwi  308 

embe  agathen  sehta  .  and  eac  wolde  gehaeftan 

ealle  hire  msegSe  .  ac  h6  ne  moste  for  criste  . 

Hine  gelselite  an  hors  .  pa.  Sa  he  Iseg  on  'Sam  scipe,. 

hetelice  mid  toSum  and  hefde  him  upp  .  212 

pa  spearn  oSer  hors  to  ,  and  asprencde  hine  ofer  bord  . 

and  nees  his  fule  lie  afundan  sefre  siSSan  . 

J)a  ne  dorste  nan  man  dreccan  hire  megtSe  . 

ac  arwurSodon  hi  ealle  .  ge-egsode  ]3urh  god  .  216 

On  Jjsere  ylcan  scire  Sicilian  landes  . 

is  4n  bjrnende  munt  .  ]5one  menn  hatatS  ethna  . 

onseled  mid  sulphore  .  pcet  is  swsefel  on  englisc  . 

Se  munt  byrntS  sefre  .  swd  swa  md  dpre  doS  .  220 

p'd  ge-timode  hit  ymbe  twelf-monaS 

sefter  agathes  j^rowunge  .  and  ethna  up  ableow 

swySe  egeslice  ontendnysse  .  and  arn  be  pam.  munte 

on  flodes  gelicnysse  .  and  formulton  *J)a  stanas  ,  224 

and  seo  eortSe  forbarn  .  otS  pcet  hit  to  psere  byrig  becom  . 

J?a  umon  pa,  hseSenan  .  to  ]58ere  halgan  byrgene  . 

and  ahofen  J?one  ofer-brsedels  of  ]3sere  halgan  byrgene 

to-geanes  J^am  fyre  .  pe  hi  afserde  for?5earle  .  228 

pa  weartS  poet  fyr  gestilled  .  and  set-stod  sona 

for  agathen  ge-earnungum  .  Jjsere  seSelan  femnan  . 

six  dagas  hit  barn  .  and  set-stod  on  }3am  dsege  . 

pe  seo  eadige  Agathes  .  to  Sam  6ce  life  gew4t  .  332 

pcet  swa  wurde  geswutelod  pcet  seo  ceaster  weartS  ahr^d 

fram  Jjses  fyres  frecednysse  .  J?urh  agathen  .  forejjingunge  . 

Jjam  hfelende  to  lofe  .  pe  his  halgan  swa  wurtSa]?  . 

pees  him  sy  ^  wuldor  on  ecere  worulde  .     AMEN.  336 

^  Leaf  51. 


VIII.    SAINT    AGATHA,    VIRGIN.  209 

Then  the  angel  went  away  with  the  youths, 

and  there  was  no  man  in  the  province  who  had  seen  them  before. 

Lo  tbep  !    Qjjintianus,  Christ's  adversary, 

went  in  a  ship  over  Semithetus  (the  river  Symaethus)  208 

about  Agatha's  possessions,  desiring  also  to  apprehend 

all  her  kindred>  but  he  could  not  for   Christ. 

A  horse  seized  him,  as  he  lay  in  the  ship, 

savagely  with  its  teeth,  and  lifted  him  up ;  212 

then  another  horse  spm'ned  at  him  and  flung  him  overboard, 

and  his  foul  body  was  never  found  afterward. 

Then  durst  no  man  vex  her  kindred, 

but  honoured  them  all,  being  awed  by  God.  216 

In  the  same  province  of  the  land  of  Sicily 

is  a  burning  mountain,  which  men  call  Etna, 

kindled  with  suliihur,  that  is  brimstone  in  English. 

The  mountain  burneth  ever,  as  many  others  do.  220 

Then  befell  it,  about  twelve  months 

after  Agatha's  passion,  that  Etna  exploded  (lit.  blew  up) 

with  a  very  fearful  burning,  which  ran  down  the  mountain 

even  like  a  flood,  and  the  stones  melted,  224 

and  the  earth  was  burnt  up,  until  it  came  to  the  city. 

Then  ran  the  heathen  to  the  saint's  tomb, 

and  took  up  the  veil  ^  from  the  saint's  tomb, 

against  the  fire  which  frightened  them  exceedingly.  228 

Then  the  fire  was  quenched,  and  immediately  stood  still 

for  the  merits  of  Agatha,  the  noble  woman ; 

Six  days  it  burned,  and  stood  still  on  the  day 

whereon  the  blessed  Agatha  departed  to  eternal  life,  232 

that  it  might  be  manifest  that  the  city  was  delivered 

from  the  peril  of  fire  by  Agatha's  intercession, 

to  the  praise  of  the  Saviour,  who  thus  honoureth  His  Saints. 

Wherefore  to  Him  ever  be  glory  to  all  eternity.     AMEN. 

^  See  the  anthem  to  the  Benedictus  in  the  Roman  Breviary  office  for 
S.  Agatha's  Day.  *  The  multitude  of  the  heathen,  flying  to  the  Virgin's  tomb, 
took  thence  her  veil  to  defend  them  from  the  fire  ;  that  the  Lord  might  reprove 
them  by  delivering  them  from  the  peril  of  burning,  for  the  sake  of  the  Blessed 
Martyr  Agatha.' 

14 


210  IX.    DE   SANCTA    LUCIA,    VIKGINE. 


IX. 


DE  SANCTA  LUCIA  UIRGO.  {sic). 

[The  other  copy,  in  MS.  V.,  is  destroyed.] 
T\  A  ASPKANG   AGATHEN   HLISA    OFER   LAND    .   AND    S^  . 

-L'  SWA  \>cet  fram  siracusa  soMe  mycel  meniu 
ofer  fiftig  mila  Tpxa  msedenes  byrgene  . 

on  catanensciscre  byrig  mid  mycelre  onbryrd-nysse  .  4 

pa  com  sum  wydewe  -^  seo  wses  geciged  euthicia  . 
betwux  o^rum  mannum  .  to  Jjsere  mseran  byrigene  . 
and  hire  dobtor  samod  .  seo  ge-saelige  lucia . 
Seo  wydewe  wses  unbdl  .  swa  Ipcet  hire  am  blod  8 

geond  feower  geare  faec  .  and  fgela  Iseca  cunnode  . 
ac  hi  ealle  ne  mihton  hyre  anre  ge-helpan  . 
Hit  gelamp   t5a   set   j?sere   msessan  .  ])cet   man   rsedde  Ipcet   god- 
spell  • 
bu  Tpoet  wif  weartJ  gehseled  .  ]?e  wses  on  blodes  ryne  .  12 

J>a?Sa  heo  hrepode  j^ees  hselendes  reaf  . 
J)a  cwceS  .  lucia  .  mid  geleafan  to  hire  meder  . 
Gif  J3U  gelyfst  modor  .  Jjysum  mseran  god-spelle  . 
gelyf  Ipcet  agathes  geearnode  set  criste  .  16 

})at5a  heo  for  his  naman  tSrowode  .  }pcet  heo  bine  symle 
hsebbe  on  andwerdnysse  on  ecere  blysse  . 
gehrepa  hire  byrigene  .  and  Jju  bist  sona  hdl . 
pa  sefter  Jjsere  msessan  seo  modor  and  seo  dohtor  20 

astrebton  hi  on  gebedum  set  J?3ere  byrgene  . 
Mid  J)am  })e  hi  lagon  and  gelencgdon  t5a  gebedu  . 
Jja  wear's  lucia  on  slsepe  .  and  geseah  agathen 
^betwux  engla  werodum  .  senlice  gefretewode  .  24 

and  clypode  hyre  |jus  to  .  clypigende  ufenne . 
Min  swustor  lucia  .  soS  godes  mseden 
hwi  bitst  |JU  set  me  Jjses  J^e  tSu  miht  sylf  getiSian 

*  MS.  wudewe,  alt.  to  wydewe. 

*  Leaf  51,  back. 


IX.    SAINT    LUCY,    VIRGIN.  211 


IX. 


(DEC.  13).     ST.  LUCY,  VIRGIN. 

Then  Agatha's  renown  spread  over  land  and  sea, 

so  that  a  great  multitude  out  of  Syracuse  sought 

the  virgin's  tomb,  from  a  distance  of  fifty  miles, 

in  the  city  of  Catana,  with  great  devotion.  4 

Then  came  a  certain  widow,  named  Eutychia, 

amongst  other  people,  to  the  famous  tomb, 

and  her  daughter  with  her,  the  blessed  Lucy. 

The  widow  was  diseased,  so  that  she  had  a  flux  of  blood  8 

for  the  space  of  four  years,  and  had  tried  many  physicians, 

but  all  of  them  could  not  help  her,  though  she  was  but  one'. 

Then  it  happened,  at  the  mass,  that  the  gospel  was  read 

how  the  woman  was  healed,  that  had  a  flux  of  blood,  12 

when  she  touched  the  Saviour's  robe. 

Then  said  Lucy,  full  of  faith,  to  her  mother, 

*If  thou  beUevest,  mother,  this  well-known  gospel, 

believe  that  Agatha  has  merited  something  from  Christ,  16 

since  she  suffered  for  His  name  that  she  might  ever 

behold  Him  in  her  presence,  in  eternal  bliss. 

Touch  now  her  tomb,  and  thou  shalt  soon  be  whole.' 

Then,  after  the  mass,  the  mother  and  daughter  20 

prostrated  themselves  in  prayers  at  the  tomb. 

Whilst  they  lay  there  and  prolonged  their  prayers, 

Lucy  fell  asleep  and  saw  Agatha 

amongst  hosts  of  angels,  splendidly  adorned,  24 

and  called  to  her  thus,  crying  from  above, 

'My  sister  Lucy,  true  virgin  of  God, 

why  prayest  thou  of  me  that  which  thou  couldst  thyself  grant  ? 

^  A  quaint  expression.     Many  physicians  could  not  heal  one  patient. 

14-2 


212  IX.    DE    SANCTA    LUCIA,    VIRGINE. 

Jjinre  meder  geheolp  ]?in  halga  geleafa  .  28 

and  efne  heo  is  gehseled  .  halwendlice  (Surh  crist  . 

and  swa  swa  ]?eos  burh  is  gemsersod  }jurh  me  .  fram  criste  . 

swa  biS  siracusa  burh  .  J^urh  pe  gewlitegod  . 

fortSan  pe  Jju  gearcodest  criste  .  on  Jjinum  clsenan  msegtS-hade  . 

wynsume  wununge  .  and '  tSa  awoc  lucia  .  33 

Heo  aras  ?5a  bifigende  .  for  tSsere  beorhtan  gesihtSe  . 

and  ssede  to  hire  meder  .  ]?u  eart  mihtiglice  gehseled  . 

nu  bidde  ic  J>e  .  Jjurh  pa,  ylcan  .  pe  pe  mid  ge-bedum  gehselde  . 

pcet  ]3U  nanne  bryd-guman  nsefre  me  ne  namige  .  37 

ne  of  minum  lichaman  deadlicne  wsestm  ne  sece  . 

ac  |3a  (Sing  J^e  J)u  woldest  to  gewemmednysse  me  syllan  . 

forgif  me  tSa  [to]  clsennysse  .  to  criste  farendre  .  40 

pa  cwsetS  seo  modor  .  mine  })incg  p\i  wast . 

and  ic  heold  nu  nigon  gear  .  wiS  ealle  hyn'Sa 

Jjines  fseder  ge-streon  .  and  furtSor  hi  geeacnode  . 

beluc  serest  mine  eagan  .  and  ]?a  sehta  ateoh  44 

loca  hu  |)e  licige  .  min  leofa  dohtor  . 

pa  cwsetS  lucia  .  hlyst  mines  rsedes 

ne  miht  tSu  naht  Isedan  of  jjysum  life  mid  pe  . 

and  pcet  Jsu  on  deatSe  sylst  for  drihtnes  naman  .  48 

Jju  hit  sylst  for  Jjan  pe  Jju  hit  ne  miht  mid  pe  aweg  Isedan  . 

ac  syle  nu  on  gesundfulnysse  paxa  soSan  hselende  . 

swa  hwaet  swa  |3u  gemyntest  on  fortS-siJje  to  donne  . 

pus  tihte  lucia  gelome  Jsa  modor  .  52 

otS  pcet  heo  beceapode  J?a  scinendan  gymmas  . 

and  eac  hire  land-are  .  wiS  licgendum^  feo  . 

and  daelde  siStSan  j^earfum  .  and  selj^eodigum  mannum  . 

wydewum  .  and  wreccum  .  and  wisum  godes  J^eowum  .  56 

pis  com  J)a  to  earan  .  ]5am  seSelborenan  cnihte  . 

pe  awogode  lucian  .  se  wse    geciged  pascasius  . 

arleas  hsetSen-gilda  .  and  tihte  pcet  halige  meeden 

to  '^Jjaera  deofla  offrungum  .  ac  pcet  drihtnes  mseden  cwseS  .      60 

Hluttor  offrung  pcet  is  .  and  licwurSe  gode  . 

pcet  mann  wydewan  geneosige  .  and  wreccan  gefrefrige  . 

*  MS.  lincgendum.  *  Leaf  5 2. 


IX.    SAINT   LUCY,    VIRGIN.  213 

Thy  holy  faith  has  helped  thy  mother,  28 

and  lo  !   she  is  entirely  healed  by  Christ  ; 

and  even  as  this  town  is  renowned  through  me,  by  Christ's  favour, 

so  shall  Syracuse  be  renowned  through  thee, 

because  thou  didst  yield  thyself  to  Christ,  in  thy  pure  virginity, 

as  a  pleasant  habitation;'   and  then  Lucy  awoke.  33 

She  rose  then  trembling  because  of  that  bright  vision, 

and  said  to  her  mother,  'thou  art  mightily  healed. 

Now  I  pray  thee,  by  that  same  One  who  healed  thee  by  prayers, 

that  thou  never  name  to  me  any  bridegroom,  37 

nor  expect  of  my  body  any  mortal  fruit. 

but,   as   for   the   property  that   thou   wouldst   give   me   for   my 

pollution, 
give  it  me  for  my  chastity,  as  I  am  going  to  Christ.'  40 

Then  said  the  mother,  'thou  knowest  my  wealth, 
and  I  have  kept  now  for  nine  years  against  all  losses 
thy  father's  property,  and  have  increased  it  further. 
First  close  mine  eyes  (in  death),  and  then  dispose  of  the  property 
lo  !  how  thou  mayst  please,  my  dear  daughter.'  45 

Then  said  Lucy,  'listen  to  my  counsel; 
thou  canst  take  away  nothing  with  thee  out  of  this  life, 
and  that  which  thou  wilt  give  at  death  for  the  Lord's  name   48 
thou  wilt  give  because  thou  canst  not  take  it  away  with  thee. 
But  give  now,  in  thy  time  of  health,  to  the  true  Saviour 
whatever  thou  intendest  to  dispose  of  at  thy  death.' 
Thus  Lucy  frequently  exhorted  her  mother,  52 

until  she  sold  the  shining  gems, 
and  even  her  landed  property  for  ready  money, 
and  afterwards  distributed  it  to  the  poor  and  to  strangers,^ 
to  widows  and  exiles,  and  wise  servants  of  God.  56 

This  came  to  the  ears  of  the  nobly-born  youth 
who  was  wooing  Lucy,  who  was  named  Paschasius, 
an  impious  idolater,  who  enticed  the  holy  maid 
to  make  offerings  to  devils;    but  the  Lord's  virgin  said,  60 

'A  pure  offering  is  this,  and  acceptable  to  God, 
that  one  should  visit  widpws,  and  comfort  exiles. 


214  IX.    DE    SANCTA   LUCIA,    •VIRGINE. 

and  steopbearnum  gehelpe  .  on  heora  gedrefednyssum  . 

Ne  dreah  ic  nu  ]?rym  gearum  .  nane  ojjre  dseda  .  64 

butan  J)am  lyfigendan  drihtne  .  J)as  Kc  geofFrode  . 

nu  ic  wylle  me  sylfe  him  soSlice  geoffrian  . 

fortJan  ic  leng  nsebbe  .  hweet  ic  on  his  lacum  aspende  . 

pa  yrsode  pascasius  .  and  hi  sprsecon  fela  .  68 

otS  pcet  he  hire  swingele  beh^t  .  gif  heo  suwian  nolde  . 

Lucia  him  cwcetS  to  .  J?8es  lifigendan  godes  word 

ne  magon  geswican  .  ne  .for-suwode  beon  . 

He  axode  Sa  mid  olle  •  Eart  pn  la  god  1  72 

Lucia  him  andwjrie  .  Ic  eom  ]?8es  aelmihtigan  jjinen  . 

for]?i  ic  cw8e?5  godes  word  .  for]?an  j^e  he  on  his  godspelle  cwsetS . 

Ne  synd  ge  pe  J^ser  sprecatS  .  ac  spryc]?  se  halga  gast  on  eow  . 

Eft  J)a  pascasius  orgellice  befrSn  .  76 

wuna(5  se  halga  gast  on  pe  eornostlice  • 

Lucia  andwyrde  |7am  arleasan  and  cwaeS  . 

Se  apostol  beh^t  ]?am  (5e  healdatS  clsennysse  . 

pcet  hi  synd  godes  tempi  .  and  j^ses  halgan  gastes  wunung  .     80 

pa  cwaetS  se  arleasa  .  Ic  hate  pe  ardlice  Isedan  . 

to  ))sera  myltestrena  huse  .  pcet  t5u  J?inne  m8eg?5-had  forleose  . 

pcet  se  .  halga  gast  pe  fram  fleo  .  t5onne  |3u  fullice  byst  gescynd  . 

Lucia  andwjrde  pns  .  ne  bit5  senig  gewemmed  .  84 

lichama  to  plihte  .  gif  hit  ne  licacS  ]3am  mode  . 

peah  fju  mine  hand  ahebbe  .  to  Sinum  hsejiengilde  . 

and  swa  Jjurh  me  geoffrige  mines  unwilles  . 

ic  beo  J?eah  unscyldig  .  setforan  tSam  soSan  gode  .  88 

sejje  demtJ  be  ]7am  willan  .  and  wat  ealle  Jsincg  . 

gif  ]?u  me  unwilles  gewemman  nu  dest  . 

me  bi?5  twifeald  clsennysse  .  geteald  to  wuldre  . 

Ne  miht  Jju  gebigan  minne  willan  to  Jjc  .  92 

swa  hwset  swa  pu  minum  lichaman  dest  .  ne  inseg  pcet  belimpan 

to  me. 
pa  wolde  se  wselhreowa  his  word  gefyllan  . 
pcet  heo  wurde  gelsed  ^  to  j^sere  la'San  fulnysse  . 

'  Leaf  52,  back. 


IX.    SAINT   LUCY,    VIRGIN.  215 

and  help  orphan  children  in  their  affliction. 

I  have  not  for  three  years  been  employed  about  any  other  deeds, 

but  have  offered  these  offerings  to  the  living  Lord.  65 

Now  I  desire  verily  to  offer  to  Him  myself, 

because  for  some  time  I  have  had  nothing  to  spend  in  His  service.' 

Then  was  Paschasius  wroth,  and  they  spake  much,  68 

until  he  pfomised  her  a  beating  if  she  would  not  be  silent. 

Lucy  said  to  him,  '  the  words  of  the  living  God, 

cannot  be  suppressed,  nor  put  to  silence.' 

Then  he  asked  her  slanderously,  'What,  art  thou  Godl'  72 

Lucy  answered  him,  *  I  am  the  Almighty's  handmaid, 

and  therefore  I  speak  God's  words,  since  He  says  in  His  gospel, 

*It  is  not  ye  who  speak  there,  but  the  Holy  Ghost  speaks  in 

you.' 
After  that  Paschasius  arrogantly  enquired,  76 

'Dwelleth  the  Holy  Ghost  in  thee,  in  good  earnest?' 
Lucy  answered  the  impious  one,  and  said, 
'The  apostle  promised  those  who  preserve  chastity, 
that  they  are  God's  temple,  and  the  Holy  Ghost's  habitation.' 
Then  the   impious   one   said,  'I  shall   straightway  bid  men  lead 

thee  8 I 

to  the  house  of  harlots,  that  thou  mayst  lose  thy  maidenhood, 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  may  flee  from  thee,  when  thou   art  foully 

dishonoured.' 
Lucy  thus  answered,  *  no  one's  body  is  dangerously  84 

polluted,  if  it  pleases  not  the  (possessor's)  mind. 
Though  thou  shouldst  lift  up  my  hand  to  thine  idol, 
and  so,  by  my  means,  offer  against  my  will, 
I  shall  still  be  guiltless  in  the  sight  of  the  true  God,  88 

who  judges  according  to  the  will,  and  knoweth  all  things. 
If  now,  against  my  will,  thou  causest  me  to  be  polluted, 
a  twofold  purity  shall  be  gloriously  imputed  to  me. 
Thou  canst  not  bend  my  will  to  thy  purpose;  92 

whatever  thou  mayest  do  to  my  body,  that  cannot  happen  to  me.' 
Then  the  cruel  one  desired  to  fulfil  his  word, 
that  she  might  be  led  to  loathsome  pollution, 


216  IX.    DE    SANCTA    LUCIA,    VIRGINE. 

and  begunnon  hi  teon  to  J)8ere  galnysse  huse  .  96 

ac  godes  miht  weartS  geswutelod  .  sona  on  para  msedene  . 

swa  pcet  se  halga  gast  hi  heold  .  and  mid  hefe  gefsestnode  . 

pcet  pa,  manfuUan  ne  mihton-  pcet  maeden  astyrian  . 

J?a  cnitton  hi  rapas  mid  retSum  an-ginne  too 

hire  to  handum  and  fotum  .  and  fela  samod  tugon  . 

ac  heo  naes  astyrod  .  ac  stod  sw4  swa  munt  . 

]>a  wearcS  ge-ancsumod  se  arleasa  pascasius  . 

and  het  him  gelangian  Jja  leasan  drymen  to  .  104 

pcet  hi  pcet  godes  mseden  mid  heora  galdrum  oferswySdon  . 

ac  (Sajja  him  naht  ne  speow  .  J)a  het  he  spannan  oxan  to  . 

ac  hi  ne  mihton  awecgan  pcet  mseden  J^agit  swA  . 

Se  cwellere  |3a  cwce'S  to  Jjam  clsenan  msedene  .  108 

hwset  is  se  Intinga  .  pcet  an  Jjusend  manna 

pe  ne  magon  astyrian  swa  unstrang  swa  (5u  eart  . 

Lucia  him  cwoe'S  to  .  J^eah  pu  clypige  tyn  J)usend  manna  . 

hi  sceolan  ealle  gehyran  ]5one  halgan  gast  Jjus  cwetSende  .        112 

Cadent   a   latere   tuo   mille   et   decern   milia   a    dextris   tuis    tibi 

autem  non  adpro2)inquahit  malum  . 
Jjusend    feallatS   fram   ]?inre   sidan  .  and    tyn  Jjusend    fram  Jjinre 

swytSran  . 
pQ  sylf  soSlice  ne  ge-nealecse'S  nan  yfel  . 

pa  wearS  se  arleasa  geancsumod  eft  swiSor  on  mode  .  116 

and  het  mycel  dd  ontendan  on  ymb-hwyr[f]te  J^ses  msedenes  . 
and  mid  pice  hi  besp[r]encgan  .  and  mid  spyrcendum  ^  ele  . 
Heo  stod  pa  unforht  on  Jsam  fyre  and  cwaecS  . 
Ic  abaed  set  criste  poet  Sis  cwealmbsera  fyr  120 

me  ne  gewylde  .  pcet  pu  wurcSe  gescynd  . 
and  hit  ]?am  geleaffullum  afyrsige  })8ere  tSrowunge  forhtunge  . 
and  pavQ.  unge-leaffullum  Jja  yfelan  blysse  of-teo  . 
pa  weartS  se  wselhreowa  wodlice  geancsumod  .  124 

pcet  his  magas  ne  mihton  his  mod-leaste  acuman  . 
Ac  heton  acwellan  poet  clsene  mseden  mid  swurde  . 
heo  wearcS  pa  gewundod  .  pcet  hire  wand  se  innotS  ut . 

^  Might  almost  he  read  as  swyrcendum. 


IX.   SAINT  LUCY,   VIRGIN.  217 

and  began  to  drag  her  to  the  house  of  lust ;  96 

but  God's  might  was  displayed  at  once  in  the  maiden, 

so  that  the  Holy  Ghost  held  her,  and  fastened  her  as  by  a  great 

weight, 
so  that  the  wicked  ones  could  not  remove  the  maiden. 
Then  they  fastened  ropes,  in  their  cruel  attempt,  100 

to  her  hands  and  feet,  and  many  tugged  at  once, 
but  she  was  never  stirred,  but  stood  firm  as  a  mountain. 
Then  was  the  impious  Paschasius  perplexed, 
and  bade  false  magicians  be  brought  unto  him,  104 

that  they  with  their  enchantments   might   overpower   the  virgin 

of  God. 
But    when    they   sped   not    at   all,   he    commanded    oxen    to    be 

harnessed  to  her, 
but  they  could  not  even  so  shake  the  maiden. 
The  murderer  then  said  to  the  pure  maid,  108 

'  "What  is  the  reason  that  a  thousand  men 
cannot  even  stir  thee,  all  weak  as  thou  art  1 ' 
Lucy  said  to  him,  *  though  thou  call  ten  thousand  men, 
they  would  all  hear  the  Holy  Ghost  thus  speaking :  112 

Cadent  a  latere  tuo  mille,  et  decern  millia  a  desQtris  tuis,  tibi  autem 

non  ad2)ropinquabit  malum. 
A  thousand  shall  fall  beside  thee,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand, 
but  verily  no  evil  shall  approach  thyself.' 

Then  was  the  impious  one  perplexed  in  his  mind  yet  more,  116 
and  bade  men  light  a  great  pile  all  round  the  maid, 
and  sprinkle  her  with  pitch  and  bespattering  (?)  oil. 
She  stood  then  undismayed  in  the  fire,  and  said, 
'  I  have  obtained  of  Christ  in  prayer  thatx  this  deadly  fire      1 20 
may  have  no  power  upon  me,  that  thou  mayst  be  put  to  shame, 
and  that  it  may  dispel  all  fear  of  torture  from  believers, 
and  take  away  from  unbelievers  their  evil  joy.' 
Then  was  the  impious  one  madly  vexed,  124 

so  that  his  friends  could  not  assuage  his  madness  ; 
but  they  bade  men  kill  the  pure  maid  with  the  sword. 
Then  was  she  wounded,  so  that  her  bowels  fell  out, 


218  X.    CATHEDRA    SANCTI    PETEI. 

ac  heo  ne  geVdt  swa  Jjeah  .  ac  Jiurh-wunode  on  gebedum  .   128 

swa  lange  swa  heo  wolde  .  and  to  psdve  leode  cwsecS  . 

Ic  secge  eow  to  so|)an  .  lp<^t  sib  Is  forgifen  . 

godes  gelat5unge  .  and  se  gramlica  casere 

dioclytianus  .  is  gedon  of  his  rice  132 

and  maximianus  se  man-fulla  is  dead  . 

Swa  swa  seo  catanenscisce  burh  binnan  hire  weallum 

hsefS  minre  swyster  agathen  .  miccle  fore-J^ingunga  . 

swa  ic  eom  forgifen  .  fram  j^am  selmihtigan  gode  136 

nu  Jjyssere  byrig  .  siracusanan  . 

eow  to  gejjingienne  .  gif  ge  fot5  to  geleafan  . 

Mid  Jjam  \)e  heo  JjIs  sprsec  .  wear]?  se  man-fulla  pascasius 

mid  racenteagum  gebunden  .  and  beforan  ?Sam  maedene  geleed  .    140 

he  waes  ser  ge-wreged  for  his  wselhreowum  daedum  . 

to  romaniscre  leode  .  j^e  tSa  ealle  land  geweolden  . 

He  weartS  J>a  gebroht  on  bendum  to  rome  . 

and  }ja  witan  heton  hine  beheafdian  .  144 

Jjajja  he  ne  mihte  his  man-dseda  betellan  . 

Seo  eadiga  (sic)  liicia  on  |?3ere  ylcan  stowe  wunode  . 

Jje  heo  ofslagen  waes  .  d^pcet  sacerdas  coman  . 

and  hi  gehusloden  .  mid  haligre  {sic)  gerynu  .  148 

and  heo  gewdt  to  criste  .  mid  para  pe  hi  cwsedon  amen. 

pa  arserde  pa.  leoda  .  J^aer  heo  loeg  cyrcan  . 

and  on  hire  naman  gehalgodon  .  Jjam  hselende  to  wurtSmynte 

setSe  aefre  rixatS  on  ecnysse  god.     AMEN".  152 

X. 

mil.    KALENDAS  MARTTAS.    CATHEDEA  SANCTI 

PETRI. 

[Another  copy  in  MS.  U.  (  =  Canib.  Univ.  Library,  li.  I.  33)  ;  and  a  third  in 
MS.  B.  (  =  Bodley  343,  If.  45)  in  later  spelling.  Of  the  last,  I  give  only  selected 
differences  of  reading.] 

WE   CWE?5aJ>   on   GERfM-CR^FTE    CATHEDEA   S^iV^CTI   PETRI  . 
seofon  ^  nihton  er  ^  J?am  montSe  pe  we  martins  hatatS  . 
Nu  synd*  sume  men^  pe  nyton  hwaet  se  nama  ge-tacnatJ. 
1  Leaf  S3.         =*  U.  seofan.        ^  u.  B.  aer.        *  B.  beotS.        *  U.  menn. 


X.    CHAIR   OF    SAINT    PETER.  219 

nevertheless  she  died  not,  hut  continued  in  prayer  128 

as  long  as  she  desired,  and  said  to  the  people, 

'I  tell  you  of  a  verity  that  peace  is  granted 

to  God's  congregation,  and  the  furious  emperor 

Diocletian  is  deposed  from  his  empire,  132 

and  Maximian  the  evil-doer  is  dead. 

Even  as  the  city  of  Catana  within  its  walls 

has  the  powerful  intercessions  of  my  sister  Agatha, 

so  am  I  allotted  by  Almighty  God  136 

now  to  this  city  of  Syracuse, 

to  intercede  for  you,  if  ye  receive  the  faith.' 

"Whilst  she  thus  spake,  the  wicked  Pascliasius  ■ 

was  hound  with  chains,  and  led  before  the  virgin.  140 

He  had  previously  been  accused,  for  his  cruel  deeds, 

to  the  Roman  people,  who  governed  all  the  land. 

He  was  then  brought  in  bonds  to  Rome, 

and  the  senators  commanded  him  to  be  beheaded,  144 

when  he  could  not  excuse  his  evil  deeds. 

The  blessed  Lucy  remained  in  the  same  place 

where  she  was  struck  down,  until  priests  came 

and  houselled  her  with  the  holy  mysteries,  148 

and  she  departed  to  Christ  as  they  were  saying  *  Amen.' 

Then  the  people  reared  a  church  on  the  spot  where  she  lay, 

and  hallowed  it  in  her  name,  to  the  Saviour's  glory, 

who  ever  reigneth  as  God  throughout  eternity.     Amen.  152 


X. 


FEB.  22.     CHAIR  OF  SAINT   PETER. 

We  commemorate  in  the  calendar  'Cathedra  Sancti  Petri' 

seven  days  before  the  month  which  we  call  March, 

Now  there  are  some  men  who  know  not  what  this  name  eififnifieth. 


220  X.    CATHEDRA   SANCTI   PETRI. 

Cathedra  is  ge-reht^  bisceop-stol  on  englisc  .  4 

^and  se'^  halga  petrus  wges  ahafen  on  J)am  dsege 

on  his  bisceop-stol  .  on  Jjsere  byrig  antiochian  . 

Tpone  stol  he  ge-saet  ^  .  seofon  gear  fullice  . 

and  siStJan  gewende*  be  godes  wissunge®  8 

to  }78ere  mgeran  ^rome  byrig®  .  and  }3ser  binnan  wunode 

fif  and  twentig  geara  .  and  fela  wundra  seteowde 

Jjeere  romaniscan  leode  .  olSpcet  he  hi'^  to  gelea^fan  ge-bigde® 

he  ferde  fram  antiochian  .  for  }3an  pe  he  wses  apostol  12 

and  sceolde  gehvvser  gecuman  ^^  .  and  cristen-dom  arseran  . 

]7a  gesset^^  he  on  rome  oSer^^  bisceop-setl  . 

o^  pcet  se  ar-leasa  nero  .  hine  "ahencg  on  rode  ^^  . 

Nu  "wylle  we  ^*  eow  secgan  .  sume  petres  wundra  .  16 

him  to  wurtSmynte  ^^  .  and  eow  to  trymmincge  ^®  . 

ac  ure  mseS  nys  .  poet  we  ealle  his  m8er(5a  secgan  . 

We  ssedon  hwilon  ser  .  hu  his  sceadu  gehealde "  . 

ealle  Tpa,  untruman  \>e  heo  oferglad  .  20 

swa  hwser  swa  he  eode  .  and  ^*hi  ealle  astodon^^ 

ansunde  .  setforan  him  .  Ipe  on  tSam  fsenne'^  ser  lagon  . 

Nu  wylle  we  eac  ^^  eow  secgan  .  hu  he  ^^  sume  dseg  eode  ^^ 

to  ]?am  godes  temple  .  mid  J^am  godspellere  lohanne  .  24 

)3a  Iseg  pser  sum  creopere  lama  fram  cild-hade  . 

se  ^^  wses  dseg-hwam-lice  geboren  to  J?am  beorhtan  gete  ^^  . 

pcet  he  ^*8elmessan  under-fencge  ^*  set  ]?am  infarendum '^^  . 

t5a  beseah  he  to  petre  sumere  selmessan  ^^  wilnigende  .  28 

Petrus  soj^lice  cwaetS  .  Nsebbe  ic  seolfor  ne  gold  . 

ic  pe  do  Jjset  ic  haebbe  .  aris  on  drihtnes  naman  . 

hdl  on  J?inum  fotum  .  and  gefeng  his  switSran^'' 

argerde^*  hine  upp  ,  and  he  leop'^'  sona  32 

cunnigende '°  his  fetSes  .  hwsecSer  he  cuSe  g4n  . 

^  B.  l-cwaeden.  "'^  B.  ]>cEt  is  3set  ])e.  ^  g.  s^t.  *  B.  wende. 

'  XJ.  gewissunge.  *^  B.  burig  rdme.  ^  B.  heom.  *  Leaf  53,  back. 

»  B.  begde.  "  B.  cdmen.  "  B.  s^t.  1=^  B.  on  fare.  *"*  XJ.  aheng 
on  rode ;  B.  on  rode  ^h^ng.  **"^*  U.  wille  we ;  B.  we  wyllsetJ.  '*  U. 

wyrSmynte.  '*  U.  trymminge.  "  U.  gehaelde.  '^"'^  B.  hdo  stddaen. 

"  U.  fenne.  ^o  ^  ^m.  ''^'^'^  U.  eode  sume  dseg.  "^^  B,  he.  ^  U.  B. 
geate.  ^*"^*  U.  selmyssan  under-fenge.  ^*  U.  inn-farendum.  ^^  U.selmyssan. 
*■'  U.  swySran ;  B.  swiSran  hand.  '^^  B.  and  arserde.  ^^  U.  hleop. 

^^  B.  cunnende. 


X.   CHAIR  OP   SAINT   PETEB.  221 

Cathedra  is  interpreted  'Bishop's  throne'  in  English;  4 

and  Saint  Peter  was  raised  on  that  day 
to  his  hisliops  throne  in  the  city  of  Antioch. 
This  throne  he  occupied  fully  seven  years; 
and  afterwards  went  by  God's  command  8 

to  the  great  city  of  Kome,  and  dwelt  therein 
five  and  twenty  years,  and  shewed  many  miracles 
to  the  Roman  people,  until  he  converted  them  to  the  faith. 
He  left  Antioch  because  he  was  an  Apostle,  la 

and  had  to  go  everywhere  and  establish  Christianity. 
Then  he  occupied  in  B-ome  his  second  episcopal  see, 
until  the  wicked  Nero  hung  him  on  a  rood. 
Now  will  we  tell  you  some  of  Peter's  miracles  16 

to  his  honour,  and  your  edification; 
but  it  is  not  our  task  to  tell  all  his  miracles. 
We  said  erewhile^  how  his  shadow  healed 

all  the  sick  over  whom  it  glided,  20 

wheresoever  he  went,  and  they  all  rose  up 
sound  before  him,  who  aforetime  lay  in  the  mire. 
Now  will  we  also  tell  you  how  on  a  certain  day  he  went 
to  God's  temple  with  the  evangelist  John.  24 

Then  lay  there  a  cripple,  lame  from  childhood, 
who  was  daily  carried  to  the  'Beautiful'  Gate, 
that  he  might  receive  alms  from  those  entering. 
Then  looked  he  towards  Peter,  desiring  an  alms,  28 

and  Peter  said,  *I  have  neither  silver  nor  gold, 
I  give  thee  that  I  have :  arise,  in  the  Lord's  name, 
whole  on  thy  feet,'  and  took  his  right  hand 
and  lifted  him  up ;  and  he  leapt  up  immediately,  3  a 

trying  his  power  of  motion,  whether  he  could  walk. 
*  See  ^Ifric's  Homiliea,  ed.  Thorpe,  i.  316. 


222  X.  CATHEDRA  SANCTI  PETRI. 

Eode  Ipa.  mid  blisse  .  binnan  paxa  temple 

mid  Ipam.  halgum  a,postoluTa  ^  .  Ipone  hselend  herigende  . 

jja  oncneowan  hine  ealle  .  ^pe  Line  cutSon  eer^  .  36 

and  micclum  wundrodon  .  Jjses  wsedlan  hsele  . 

Eft  set  sumon  ssele  pa.  petrus  sijjode  . 

neosigenne^  pa,  geleaffuUan  .  ]3a  becom  h6  to  liddan  . 

*wolde  tSa  gebrotSra  gesprsecan  *  .  pe  on  Jjsere  byrig  eardodon  .  40 

pA  gemette  h^  anne  bsedrydan**  .  binnon  f)am  weallum  . 

eneas  gehaten  .  for  eahte®  gearum  lama  . 

pa  cwcetS  se  eadiga  petrus  .  to  j^am  earman  baeddrydan'  . 

gehsele  tJe  drihten  crist  .  aris  and  do  pe  gearowne*  .  44 

J)a  ards  se  bseddryda  ®  un-bunden  fram  petre  , 

se  pe  hsefS  |5a  mihte  .  pcet  he  mseg  un-binden  ^*  . 

pa  faestan  cnottan  .  fyrnlicra  synna  . 

pam  tSe  mid  dsedbote  hine  biddatS  georne  .  48 

pcet  he  him  gejiingie  ^^  to  ]3am  hgelende  criste  . 

pa  gelyfde  seo  burh-waru  .  Jjurh  ]3ses  bseddrydan^^  hsele  . 

on  }?one  sotSan  god  .  and  gecyrde  to  fulluhte  . 

and  Jja  saroniscan  ^  swa  gelice  dydon  .  52 

loppe  hatte  sum  burh  .  gehende  jjsere  liddan  . 

on  Jjgere  waes  an  wydewe  .  wel  gelyfed 

thabitas  "geciged  .  and  swy}je  selmes-georn "  . 

and  mid  godum  weorcum  geglencged^^  forjjearle  .  56 

seo  ^®  wearcS  geimtrumad  "  on  }jam  ylcan  timan  . 

gewdt^^  J)a  of  life  .  and  Iseg  on  uppflora"  . 

pa  ge-axodon  Jja  geleaf-fullan  .  pe  pcet  lie  bessetan*^"  . 

pcet  petrus  wses  on  liddan  .  j^am  lande  swa  gehende  .  60 

asendan^^  J^a  twegen  weras  '^^wi'S  his'^^  . 

and  baedon  pcet  h6  butan  yldincge  ^^  hi  ge-neosode  . 

pa  ards  se  apostol  and  ardlice^*  J^ider  com  . 

^  B.  gastum.  ^'^  B.  Jja  '5e  hfne  aer  cu'Sen.  *  U.  B.  neosigende. 

*"'  B.  walde  wi'S  pa  ge-bro'5iae  sp^can  (U.  gesprecan).  *  U.  bedrydan. 

•  U.  eahta.  ''  U.  bedrydan  j  B.  lamsen.  *  U.  gearonne.  *  U. 

bedryda.  ^*  U.  unbindan.  "  Leaf  54.  **  U.  bedrydan.  *'  U. 

saroceniscan  {sic).  ^*-^*  B.  1-h^ten  .  swiSe  aelmesgeome ;  U.  omits  and. 

'^  U.  geglenged,  1*  B.  Heo.  "  U.  ge-untrumod.  ^^  U.  and  gewat. 

'*  B.  hire  iip-fl<5re,  **  U.  besseton.  ^'  U.  asendon;  B.  ant  senden. 

22-^^  B.  to  him.        «  u^  yldinge.        ="  B.  hardUce. 


X.  CHAIR  OF  SAINT  PETER.  223 

Then  went  he  joyfully  into  the  temple, 

with  the  holy  apostles,  praising  the  Saviour. 

Then  all  who  knew  him  before  recognised  him,  36 

and  greatly  marvelled  at  the  poor  man's  healing. 

Again,  on  another  occasion,  as  Peter  journeyed 

to  visit  the  faithful,  he  came  to  Lydda, 

desiring  to  speak  with  the  brethren  who  dwelt  in  that  city.    40 

There  he  found  a  bedridden  man  within  the  walls, 

called  iEneas,  lame  for  eight  years. 

Then  said  the  blessed  Peter  to  the  poor  bedridden, 

'The  Lord  Christ  make  thee  whole,  arise  and  make  thyself 
ready.'  44 

Then  arose  the  bedridden,  loosed  by  Peter, 

he  who  hath  the  power  to  unloose 

the  fast  knots  of  olden  sins 

in  those  that  with  repentance  earnestly  beseech  him  48 

to  intercede  for  them  to  the  Saviour  Christ. 

T'hen  believed  the  men  of  the  city,  through  the  healing  of  the  bed- 
ridden, 

in  the  true  God,  and  submitted  to  baptism, 

and  those  of  Saron  did  likewise.  52 

There  was  a  city  bight  Joppa,  nigh  at  hand  to  Lydda, 

wherein  was  a  widow,  a  very  true  believer, 

called  Tabitha,  very  diligent  in  alms-deeds, 

and  adorned  exceedingly  with  good  works ;  56 

she  became  sick  at  that  same  time, 

departed  from  life,  and  lay  in  an  upper  chamber. 

"When  the  faithful  who  surrounded  the  body, 

learnt  that  Peter  was  at  Lydda,  so  nigh  to  that  place,  60 

then  sent  they  two  men  to  meet  him, 

praying  that  he  would  visit  them  without  delay. 

Then  arose  the  apostle,  and  quickly  came  thither, 


224  X.    CATHEDRA    SANCTI    PETRI. 

eode  to  j^aere  uppflora  ^  .  and  efne  him  embe  stodon  .  64 

wepende  wydewan  .  and  wan-hafele  ^  J)earfan  . 

^  seteowigende  him '  ]?a  reaf  .  and  j?a  gerenodan  .  tunecan  . 

]?e  thabitas  him  worhte  .  ser  Jjan  pe  heo  gewite  . 

pa  h6t  se  halga  petrus  .  Ipcet  hi  him  Ipcet  hus  gerymdon  .         68 

and  gebigde  *  his  cneowa  biddende  hire  ^  lifes  . 

Wende  pa  to  |)am  lice  .  and  hlude  clypode  . 

thabita  aris  .  and  heo  Jsser-rihte  ge-edcucode  ®  . 

beseah  to  petre  .  and  '^geset  hire'^  upp  .  72 

pa  gelsehte  petrus  hire  li}?ian*  hand  . 

arserde  hi  upp  hale  of  Jsam  bedde  . 

pa  asprang  ]?ia  wundor  .  wide  geond  pcet  land  . 

and  fela  gelyfdon  on  ]?one  lifigendan  god  .  76 

pa  wunode  petrus  sefter  }?8ere  wydewan  seryste  . 

manega  dagas  on  ioppe  .  mid  sumum  "gelyfedan  menn^ 

symon  gehaten  .  his  hus  stod  wit5  pa,  see  . 

pa  wolde  se  apostol  hine  onsundron  ^°  gebiddan  .  80 

and  astdh  to  psere  upp-flora "  .  embe  midne  deeg  utan  . 

wses  eac  ofhingrod  .  and  wolde  ]58er  anbidian  . 

pa  wearS  him  seteowed  .  wundorlic  gesih'S  . 

he  geseah  heofonas  opene  .  and  him  com  to  an  faet^^  .  84 

fySer-scyte  .  and  brad  .  and  binnan  J?am  waeron 

^*  ealle  cuce  nytenu "  creopende  .  and  gangande  . 

him  ^*com  stemn  to"  .  ]?us  clypiende'^  ]?riwa  . 

aris  nu  petrus  .  ^^and  ]3as  reSan  deor  ofsleh  .  88 

maca  pe  to  mete "  .  pcet  pn  ^^  mege  pe  gereordian  ^*  . 

pa  cw(«'S  se  halga  wer  .  ne  gewur'Se  hit  leof  drihten  . 

forjsan  tSe  ic  ne  onbyrgde  ^^  .  swa  hwset  swa  unclsene  biS  . 

pa  com  him  eft  ^^  stemn  to  J^us  clypigende  ^"  of  heofonum  .      92 

pcet  pcet  god  geclsensode  ^^  ,  ne  cwsecS  ]3u  ^"^  Ipcet  hit  ful  sy  ^^  . 

*  TJ.  upflora.         ^  XJ.  wann-hafele.        ^*  B.  sceawende,        *  B.  he  b^gde. 
^  XJ.  heore,  ®  B.  cwlcede,  '''''  XJ.  ge-sset  heore.  *  XJ.  B.  li])igan. 

*"*  XJ.  ge-lyfedum  men.  ^^  XJ.  on-sundran.  *^  XJ.  upflora;  B.  tip-flore. 

^^  XJ.  fait.         ^'^^  B.  fy^er-scyte  nytenu  .  and  alle  nutene  {sic).         ^*'"  XJ.  com 
•Sa  stemn;  B.  c6m  fa  stsefn  to  of  heofenum.  ■'^  XJ.  clypigende  {om.  ))us). 

^^  Leaf  54,  back.  "  XJ.  metan.  ^^^*  XJ.  mage  gereordian ;  B.  m^ge 

reordisen.       '^  XJ.  on-byrige ;  B.  on-btirige.       ^"''^'^  B.  stsefn  '5us  clypigende  to. 
^'  XJ.  clsensode ;  B.  clsensode  on  h^ofenum.        **  B.  ])ti  nji,        **  B.  b^o. 


X.   CHAIR  OF   SAINT  PETER.  '225 

Mront  to  the  upper-chamber,  and  behold,  there  stood  about  him 

weeping  widows  and  destitute  poor,  65 

showing  him  the  garments  and  the  embroidered  tunics, 

which  Tabitha  had  made  for  them,  before  she  departed. 

Then  bade  the  holy  Peter,  that  they  should  clear  the  house  for  him, 

and  bowed  his  knees,  praying  for  her  life;  69 

then  turned  he  to  the  body,  and  cried  aloud, 

'  Tabitha,  arise,'  and  she  straightway  revived, 

beheld  Peter,  and  sat  up.  72 

Then  Peter  took  her  feeble  hand, 

and  raised  her  up  whole  from  the  bed. 

Then  the  miracle  was  blazed  abroad  throughout  all  that  region, 

and  many  believed  in  the  living  God.  76 

Then  Peter  dwelt,  after  that  widow's  raising, 

many  days  in  Joppa  with  a  believing  man, 

named  Simon;   his  house  stood  by  the  sea. 

Then  desired  the  apostle  to  pray  apart,  80 

and  went  up  outside  the  house-top  about  mid-day, 

was  also  an-hungered,  and  desired  to  remain  there. 

Then  was  shown  to  him  a  wondrous  vision, 

he  saw  the  heavens  open,  and  a  vessel  came  to  him  84 

four-cornered  and  broad,  and  within  it  there  were 

all  living  creatures,  creeping  and  walking. 

A  voice  came  to  him,  thus  crying  thrice, 

'arise  now,  Peter,  and  slay  these  savage  beasts,  88 

make  for  thee  meat,  that  thou  mayst  satisfy  thyself.' 

Then  said  the  holy  man,  'let  it  not  be  so,  dear  Lord, 

for  I  have  never  tasted  anything  tbat  is  unclean.' 

Then  came  to  him  again  the  voice,  thus  crying  from  Heaven,    92 

*that  which  God  hath  cleansed,  say  not  thou  that  it  is  foul.' 

15 


^^6  X.    CATHEDRA   SANCTI    PETRI. 

priwa  him  wees  Jjua  geclypod  to  .  and  Jjser-rihte  wear's  pcet  faet 

^upp  to  heofonum  abroden  ^  .  eft  mid  Jsam  nytenum  . 

"We  wyllatS  eow  secgan  .  sceortlice  J^as  getacnunge  ^  ,  96 

]>cet  fyjjer-scyte '  fset  .  mid  |3am  fulum  nytenum  , 

haefde  getacnunge  .  ealles  haecSenes  folces  . 

\)e  on  fytSer-scytum  middan-earde  fullice  leofdon  *  . 

ac  crist  hi  gecleensode  .  ]3urh  his  tocyme  on  worulde  .  100 

and  forjji  cwse}?  se  ®  stemn  clypigende "  to  petre  . 

J33et  he  hine  gereordode  .  mid  Ipam.  re]?enum ''  nytenum  . 

forJ)an  pe  hi  wseron  geclsensode  .  )?urh  cristes  ]3rowunge  , 

and  he  sceolde  hi  awendan  of  J^am  wyrm-hiwe  .  104 

Jjurh  sotSe  lare  .  to  gesceadwisnysse  . 

and  to  manna  gelicnysse  .  of  |5am  lat5um  hi^ve  . 

priwa  clypode  seo  stemn  .  fram  J^sere  halgan  tSrynnysse  . 

seo  J?e  is  in  selmihtig  god  .  sefre*  unto-dseled-lic  ®  .  108 

Mid  Jjam  ?Se  petrus  smeade  .  hwset  his  gesihS  gemsende  . 

jja  clypodon  Jjser  tSry  weras  .  cnucigende  set  pam  geate  . 

and  axodon  set  Jjam  hiwum  .  hwseSer  se  halga  petrus 

Jjser  wununge  hsefde  .  ^"woldon  hine  gesprsecan  ^^  .  112 

Efne  J)a  se  halga  gast  .  him  pcet  ssede  .  and  cwseS  . 

pry  weras  J)e  secaS  .  of  cessarean  byrig  . 

aris  and  far  mid  him  .  forjjan  pe  ic  "  hi  asende  "  . 

Petrus  J)a  eode  ard-lice  ^^  to  Sam  mannum  .  116 

befrdn^*  for  hwylcum  intingan  .  hi  hine  axodon  . 

hi  ssedon  pcet  Cornelius  ^^  hi  asende  ^^  to  him  . 

He  is  hundredes  ealdor  .  and  hsefS  godes  ^*  ege  . 

swytSe  riht-wys  wer  .  pcet  wdt  call  peos  scyr  .  120 

him  com  to  godes  sencgel  ^®  .  and  cwseS  pcet  he  sceolde  . 

Jie  him  to  langian  ^®  .  and  Jjine  lare  gehyran  . 

pa  on  seme  mergen  eode 

Be  "  eadiga  ^*  petinis  .  mid  }?am  serendracum  .  1 24 

^■'  B.  Tip  abrdgden  to  heofenum.  *  B.  bisnunge.  *  TJ.  fi])er-scyte. 

*  U.  leofodon.  «  U.  seo.  *  U.  om.  ''  U.  return ;  B.  rse])u»i. 

*  B.  om.  *  B.  un-to-dselendlic,  "'i"  B.  and  wolden  wi'S  him  sprse'cen. 
»-"  B.  h^om  sende.  ^^  B.  h^rdlice.  ^  U.  and  be-fran.  "  B. 
mycelne  godes.  "  u_  g_  engel.  ^^  U.  ge-langian ;  B,  Iseden. 
"  Leaf  55.               "B.  halga. 


X.   CHAIR  OF   SAINT  PETES.  2^7 

Thrice  was  it  thus  cried  to  him,  and  straightway  the  vessel 

was  drawn  up  to  Heaven  again,  together  with  the  beasts. 

We  will  now  tell  you  shortly  the  interpretation.  96 

The  four-cornered  vessel  with  the  foul  beasts 

had  for  signification  all  heathen  nations, 

who,  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  lived  foully, 

but  Christ  cleansed  them  by  His  coming  into  the  world;       100 

and  therefore  said  the  voice,  crying  to  Peter, 

that  he  should  feed  himself  with  the  fierce  beasts, 

because  they  were  cleansed  through  Christ's  passion, 

and  He  was  to  turn  them  from  the  likeness  of  the  serpent    104 

by  true  doctrine  imto  reason, 

and  to  the  likeness  of  men  from  that  loathsome  form. 

Thrice  cried  the  voice  from  the  Holy  Trinity, 

Who  is  One  Almighty  God,  ever  indivisible.  108 

While  Peter  considered  what  his  vision  should  mean, 

there  cried  three  men,  knocking  at  the  gate, 

and  asking  of  the  servants,  whether  the  holy  Peter 

had  his  dwelling  there,  desiring  to  speak  with  him.  iia 

Behold  then,  the  Holy  Ghost  told  him  of  it  and  said, 

*  Three  men  seek  thee  from  the  city  of  Caesarea, 

arise,  and  go  with  them,  for  I  have  sent  them.' 

Peter  thereupon  went  quickly  to  the  men,  ii6 

enquiring  for  what  cause  they  asked  for  him. 

They  said  that  Cornelius  sent  them  to  him; 

*He  is  a  Centurion,  and  hath  the  fear  of  God, 

a  very  righteous  man,  as  all  this  province  knows ;  120 

to  him  came  God's  angel,  and  bade  that  he  should 

summon  thee  to  him,  and  hear  thy  doctrine.' 

"So,  in  the  early  morning,  went 

the  blessed  Peter  with  the  messengers,  124 

15—2 


2-28  X.    CATHEDRA    SANCTI   PETRI. 

and  eac  his  gebrotSra  samod  to  cessarean  byrig  . 

Cornelius  gelatSode  his  leofestan  freond^  . 

wolde  pcet  hi  ge-hyrdon  .  j^a  halgan  lare  set  petre  . 

and  code  him  to-geanes  ..^and  hine  eadmodlice  gebigde'^.      128 

adune  to  his  fotum  .  ac  his  onfencg^  petrus. 

Eode  pa.  inn  mid  cornelie  .  and  cwce'S  to  him  ealluw  . 

Ge  witon  pcBt  us*  ludeiscum  ne  gedafenatS  to  genealecenne 

eow  hseSenum  mannum  .  ac  me  geswutelode  god  .  132 

pcet  us  nys  to  cwetSenne  .  pcet  ge  unclsene  syndon^  . 

Ic  com^  eac  forjjy  buton  selcere  twynunge''  . 

ic  axe*  Jjone  intingan  .  hwi  }3U  me  gelangodest '^  . 

Cornelius  cwaetJ  Jsa  .  me  com  to  godes  encgeP**  136 

nu  ser  on  dseg  embe  non-tid  .  ]5a|3a  ic  me  ana  gebsed  . 

stod  on  hwitum  gyrlum  and  cwce?5  Jjus  to  me  . 

Jjin  gebsed"  is  gehyred  .  fram  jjam  healican  gode  . 

and  j^ine  selmyssan  synd  on  his  gesihjje  getealde  .  140 

asend  nu^^  to  loppen  to  symone  petre  . 

and  gelange^^  hine  to  pe  .  pcet  he  pe  lifes  word  secge  . 

Nu  sende  ic  to  pe  and  we  synd  gearwe  ^* . 

ealle  Jja  j^incg  to  gehyrenne".  pe  se  hselend  Jje  behead  .  144 

Cristen-dom  nses  f)agit  cu?S  on  jjsere  byrig  . 

ne  Jjes  Cornelius  nses  on  criste  gefuUod  . 

ac  he  gelyfde  swa  peah.  on  |3one  lifigendan  god . 

and  mid  selmessum  geearnode  J)ses  sengles  ^^  wyssunge  .  148 

and  astealde  para,  hsejsenum  healice  gebysnunge  . 

tJa  pa.  he  to  fulluhte  heora  fyrmest  beah  . 

pa  cwoetS  .  se  eadiga  petrus  .  Ic  on-cneow  to  so|5an  . 

pcet  gode  is  andfencge^^  on  selcere  maegSe  152 

sej^e  hine  ondrset  .  and  det5  rihtwisnysse  . 

Ongan  }?a  to  secgenne  Jjone  sojsan  geleafan 

|3am  hsetSenan  Jjegne  be  tSses  hselendes  fsere  . 

*  U.  inserts  him  to  after  freond ;  B.  inserts  it  after  gelaSode.  "  B.  ead- 

molice  {sic)  and  begde.  *  IT.  B.  onfeng.  *  U.  om.  ^  B.  bedn. 

•  MS.  eom;  B.  edm;  C.  com  (rightly).  ''  U.  twuwunge ;  B.  twenunge. 

8  U.  axige  ;  B.  axie,  »  B.  la«odest.  i"  U.  B.  engel.  "  U.  B.  ge- 

bed.  ^"^  U.  Ac  send  nu ;  B.  send.  '*  U.  ge-langa  ;  B.  lad.  "  U. 

gearowe ;  B.  gearuge.  ^  XJ.  B.  angles.  ^'^  U,  B.  andfenge. 


X.  CHAIR  OF  SAINT  PETER.  229 

and  likewise  his  brethren  together,  to  the  city  of  Caesarea. 

Cornelius  invited  his  dearest  friends, 

desiring  that  they  should  hear  the  holy  doctrine  from  Peter, 

and  went  to  meet  him,  and  humbly  bowed  himself  128 

down  at  his  feet,  but  Peter  took  him  up. 

Then  went  he  in  with  Cornelius,  and  said  to  them  all, 

*Ye  know  that  it  befitteth  not  us  Jews  to  come  near 

to  you  heathen  men,  but  God  hath  showed  me  13a 

that  it  is  not  for  us  to  say  that  ye  are  unclean. 

I  came  therefore  without  any  doubt, 

I  ask  the  cause  wherefore  thou  calledst  for  me.' 

Then  Cornelius  said,  '  God's  angel  came  to  me  136 

[shortly]  before  now  one  day  about  the  ninth  hour  while  I  was 

praying  alone, 
stood  in  white  garments,  and  said  thus  to  me, 
"  Thy  prayer  is  heard  of  the  high  God, 

and  thine  alms  are  reckoned  in  his  sight;  140 

send  now  to  Joppa,  to  Simon  Peter, 

and  call  him  to  thee,  that  he  may  speak  to  thee  words  of  life." 
Now  have  I  sent  unto  thee,  and  we  are  ready 
to  hear  all  those  things  which  Jesus  commanded  thee.'  144 

Christianity  was  not  yet  known  in  that  city, 
neither  was  this  Cornelius  baptized  into  Christ, 
but  he  believed  nevertheless  in  the  living  God, 
and  by  alms  earned  the  angel's  instruction,  148 

and  set  the  heathen  a  lofty  example, 
when  he  submitted  to  baptism  the  first  of  them  all. 
Then  said  the  blessed  Peter,  'I  perceive  of  a  truth 
that  God  is  the  receiver  in  every  nation  152 

of  whosoever  feareth  Him,  and  doeth  righteousness.' 
Then  began  he  to  teach  the  true  faith 
to  the  heathen  officer,  concerning  the  Saviour's  life; 


230  X.  CATHEDRA  SANCTI  PETRI. 

hu  he  worhte  wundra  on  Jjyssere  worulda  fela^  .  156 

and  siSSan  deatJ  fjrowode  sylf-willes  for  us  . 

and  on  Jjam  J^ryddan  dsege  ards  of  Sam  deaSe  gesund  . 

pa  betwux  pysnm  worduin.  .  wear]?  mycel  godes  wundor 

swa  pcpt  se  halga^  gast  com  ofer  jja  hseSenan  .  16a 

and  hi  ealle  sprsecon  ]>e  tJa  lare  gehyrdon  . 

^  mislicum  gereordum '  msersigende  god  . 

Jja  wundrodon  pa,  iudeiscan  Ipe  Jjger  wseran  mid  petre 

geleaffulle  on  criste  .  pcet  se  halga  gast  com  164 

ofer  (Sa  haecSenan  .  and  se  halga  petrus  cwsecS  . 

hwa  mseg  wseteres  forwyrnan  *  J?ysum  werum  *  to  fuUuhte  . 

^  nu  hi  })one  halgan  gast  habbaS  under-fangen  ^ 

swa  sWa  we  sylfe  .  and  he  sona  h^t  hi  168 

ealle  fullian  .  on  Jjses  selmihtigan  naman  . 

])&  bgedon  hi  petrum  pcet  he  awcZbidode  ®  j^ser 

ane  "^  feawa  daga  '^  sefter  heora  fulluhte  . 

Eft  JsatSa  petrus  com  to  pam  cristenuw  heape  17a 

binnan  hierusalem  .  pa  befrunon  ]5a  gebroSra 

pe  of  ludeiscum  cynne  *  .  on  crist  gelyfdon  . 

Hwi  eodest  ]?u  to  Jjam  hse'Senum  .  and  on  heora  huse  ge-sete  . 

pa  iudeiscan  wendon  pcet  hi  ana  waeron  176 

gode  gecorene  .  and  forjjy  swa  cwsedon  . 

On  ealdum®  dagum  under  moyses  .  se*'*  . 

noldon  |?a  iudeiscan  genealecan  Jjam  haej)enum 

ne  mid  him  gereordian  .  and  swy]?e  rihtlice  })a,  .        "  180 

forjjan  pe  hi  gelyfdon  on  ^^J?ane  lifigendan  god  . 

and  Jja  hsetSenan  gelyfdon  on  ^^  J?a  leasan  godas  . 

Jja'Se  nseron  godas  ac  gramlice  deofle  ^^  . 

Nu  woldon  tSa  Iudeiscan  heora  gewunan  healdan  184 

sefter  heora  fulluhte  .  and  forseon  (Sa  hsel^enan  . 

pa  began  se  halga  petrus  ,  him  eallum  secgan  . 

hwset  him  ^^  god  geswutelode  ^^  ser'San  J^e  he  Jjider  sifiode  ^*  . 

*  B.  om.  ^  Leaf  55,  back.  °"^  B.  mislice  reordum.  ^■*  B. 

wynsume  were.  ^"'  B.  nii  heo  habbse'S  J)one  halgae  gast  on-fengon. 

^  B.  abide.  '''''  B.  liit  dagse.  *  B.  cunne  weron  and.  *  The  d 

is  erased  ;  U.  ealdum ;  B.  ealde.  ^"  B.  lage.  ^^'^^  B.  omits.  ^*  U. 

deofla ;  B.  deoflae.  '""^'  B.  f-swytelode  were.  **  B.  ferde. 


X.   CHAIR  OF   SAINT   PETER.  231 

bow  he  wrought  many  miracles  in  this  world,  156 

and  afterwards  suffered  death  of  His  own  will  for  us, 

and  on  the  third  day  arose  from  the  dead  uncorrupt. 

In  the  midst  of  these  words  was  shown  a  great  miracle  of  God, 

so  that  the  Holy  Ghost  came  upon  the  heathen,  160 

and  they  all  who  heard  that  lore  spake 

with  divers  tongues,  magnifying  God. 

Then  marvelled  the  Jews  who  were  there  with  Peter, 

which  believed  in  Christ,  that  the  Holy  Ghost  came  164 

upon  the  heathen,  and  the  holy  Peter  said, 

'Who  shall  forbid  water  for  the  baptism  of  these  men 

now  that  they  have  received  the  Holy  Ghost 

even  as  we  ourselves?'  and  he  straightway  commanded  them  168 

all  to  be  baptized,  in  the  name  of  the  Almighty. 

Then  prayed  they  Peter  to  tarry  there 

for  a  few  days  after  their  baptism. 

After  that  when  Peter  came  to  the  Christian  congregation      172 

at  Jerusalem,  then  the  brethren  asked  him, 

they  of  the  Jewish  nation  who  believed  in  Christ, 

'  Why  wentest  thou  to  the  heathen  and  didst  eat  in  their  house  V 

The  Jews  thought  that  they  alone  were  176 

chosen  of  God,  and  therefore  so  spake. 

In  old  days,  under  Moses'  Law, 

the  Jews  would  not  come  near  the  heathen, 

nor  eat  with  them,  and  very  rightly  then,  180 

because  they  themselves  believed  in  the  living  God, 

and  the  heathen  believed  in  the  false  gods, 

which  were  not  gods  but  horrible  devils. 

The  Jews  wished  now  to  hold  their  customs  184 

after  their  baptism,  and  to  contemn  the  heathen. 

Then  began  St.  Peter  to  relate  to  them  all 

what  God  had  showed  him  before  he  came  thither, 


233  X.    CATHEDRA   SANCTI   PETRI. 

and  hu  se  halga  gast  com  ofer  }ja  hsejjenan  and  cwcet5  .  i88 

Gif  god  him  forgeaf  ^  Jjses  halgan  gastes  gife  . 
swa  swa  us  on  frymj^e  on  fyrenum  gereordum  . 
Hwset  eom  ic  manna  ^  ])oet  ic  mihte  god  forbeodan? 
pa  suwodon  J)a  ludeiscan  sycStSan  hi  Jjis  gehyrdon  .  192 

and  wuldrodon^  god  .  \)cet  he  wolde  forgifan* 
J>am  hsej^enan  dsed-bote  to  Ipam.  heofonlican  life  . 
Marcellus  wses  gehaten  .  sum  msere  godes  jjegn  . 
se  folgode  symone  Jjam  sceand-lican  dry  .  196 

oSjjoef  se  eadiga  ^  petrus  .  Jjone  arleasan  ofer-drdf  . 
pa  for-let  ^marcellus  Ipone  manfullan  dry  . 
and  folgode  petre  and  to  fulluhte  beah  . 

Nu  awraf  jjses  marcellus  .  hu  sancte  petres  dohtor  200 

petronella  gewat  *  of  worulde  to  criste  . 
Petrus  hsefde  wif^  serSan  jje  he  wsere 
gecyrred  to  cristes  hirede  .  ac  he  wi]3-cwse(S  si'S'San 
woruldlicum  gewilnungum  .  and  wifes  neawiste  .  204 

for]?an  pe  crist  astealde  clsennysse  on  worulde  . 
and  ealle  his  folgeras  ferdon  on  clsennysse  . 
swa  swa  petres  cwsecS  .  cu]?lice  him  to  . 

Ucce  nos   reliquimus   omnia   et   secuti   sumus   t&  .  quid  ergo  erit 
nobis  1  208 

Efne  we  forleton  ealle  jjincg  on  worulde 
and  ]?e  nu  folgia]?  .  hwset  fore-sceawost  \>n  ^^  us  . 
On  anginne  middan-eardes  .  cwseS  se  selmihtiga  god  . 
beotS  gemenig-fylde  .  and  ge-fyllaS  Jsas  eorcSan  .  212 

and  crist  wolde  on  his  to-cyme  claennyBse  ^^  arseran  . 
and  his  halgan  hired  .  heold  on  clsennysse  . 
Menn  hsefdon  on  frymSe  heora  magan  to  wife  . 
and  swa  wel  mosten  for  Ssere  wif-leaste  .  216 

and  gif  nu  hwa  swa  do's  nsefS^^  he  godes  bletsunge  . 
Under  moyses  se  ^^  .     moste  se  bisceop  habban 

^  B.  geaf.  ^  B.  mon.                 *  B,  wundredon  on.                 *  B.  gifen. 

"  B.  halga.  «  Leaf  56.             i  B.  wrat,             »  B.  ferde.            "  B.  wif 

and  child.  "  U.  fore-sceawastu.             "  B.  om.            ^"^  B.  'Sonne  nsefS. 
3  B.  lage. 


X.    CHAIR   OF   SAINT   PETER.  233 

and  how  the  Holy  Ghost  came  upon  the  heathen,  and  said,  i88 
'If  God  gave  them  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
as  unto  us  at  the  beginning  in  fiery  tongues, 
what  manner  of  man  am  I,  that  I  could  forbid  God?' 
Then  the  Jews  were  silent  after  they  had  heard  this,  19a 

and  glorified  God,  in  that  He  willed  to  grant 
to  the  heathen  repentance  unto  the  heavenly  life. 
There  was  a  great  servant  of  God  hight  Marcellus, 
who  followed  Simon  the  shameful  sorcerer,  196 

imtil  the  blessed  Peter  drove  away  the  impious  man. 
Then  Marcellus  left  the  wicked  sorcerer, 
and  followed  Peter,  and  submitted  to  baptism. 
Now  this  Marcellus  hath  recorded  how  St.  Peter's  daughter,  200 
named  Petronilla,  departed  from  the  world  to  Christ. 
(Peter  had  a  wife  before  he  was  converted 
to  the  family  of  Christ,  but  he  afterwards  renounced 
worldly  desires,  and  conjugal  intercourse,  204 

because  Christ  ordained  chastity  in  the  world, 
and  all  his  followers  walked  in  chastity, 
even  as  Peter  indeed  said  to  him, 

'  Ecce  nos  reliquimus  omnia,  et  secuti  sumus  te ;    quid  ergo  erit 
nobis  T  >  208 

'Behold,  we  have  left  all  things  in  the  world 
and  now  follow  Thee,  what  wilt  thou  provide  for  us?' 
In  the  beginning  of  the  world  said  Almighty  God, 
'Be  ye  multiplied,  and  replenish  the  earth;*  212 

and  Christ  desired  at  His  coming  to  establish  chastity, 
and  preserved  His  holy  household  in  chastity. 
Men  had  in  the  beginning  their  kindred  to  wife, 
and  well  they  might,  for  the  lack  of  women;  216 

and  whosoever  doth  so  now,  will  not  have  God's  blessing. 
Under  Moses'  law,  the  bishop  was  to  have 


234  X.    CATHEDRA    SANCTI   PETRI. 

an  ge-sewnod  ^  wif  .  for  j^sere  gewissan  sefter-gencgnysse  ^  . 

pcet  is  pcet  se  sunu  sceolde  symle  fon  to  pam  hade  .  220 

sefter  his  feeder  geendunge  and  nan  oSer  ne  moste^  . 

Hit  mihte  pa,  wel  swd*  .  for  J^an  pe  hi  ne  msessodon^  nsefre  . 

ac  hi  offrodon  nytenu  on  heora  lacum  gode  . 

ne  husel  nses  gehalgod  serj^am  tSe  se  hselend  com  .  224 

and  |3a  niwan  gecycSnysse  mid  cristen-dome  arserde  . 

and  geceas  J?a  clsenan  *  to  his  cleenum  Jjeow-dome  . 

ua  to  nytena  oflfrunge  ac  to  his  agenum  lichaman  . 

and  bisceopas  ne  beoS  nu^  be  gebyrdum®  gecorene  .  228 

ac  seo  halige  gelaSung  lufatS  |3a  clsenan  , 

and  crist  wile  habban  pa  pe  him  cisenlice  JjeuiatJ  . 

set  para  liflicum  lacum  his  lichaman  and  blodes  . 

We  sceoldan  ®  secgan  be  pseve  snoteran  petronellan  .  232 

]3ses  eadigan  petres  dehter  .  ac  us  be-arn  J?is  on  mod  . 

Se  fore-sseda  marcellus  sseda  {sic)  ^^  pcet  heo  Isege  " 

on  paralisin  swa  swa  petrus  sylf  wolde  ^^  . 

pa  axode  titus  ]?one  ^^ eadigan"  apostol  .  236 

hwi  he  gej^afode  pcet  heo  swa  ^®  lage  on  Jjam  leger-bedde  . 

Jjonne  he  "oSre  alefede  ealle  gehselde^®  .  and  heo  ana  Iseg  swa  . 

Da  cwceS  se  halga  faeder  .  pcet  hire  fremode  pcet . 

ac  Jjelses  pe  hwa  wene  pcet  ure  word  ne  msege  240 

hire  hsele  forgifan"  .  ic  hate  hi  nu  arisan 

and  us  eallum  |?enian  .  and  heo  fiser-rihte  ards 

Jjenode  hire  faeder  .  and  his  ^-geferum  hal^®  . 

jEfter  }?sere  j^enunge  het  se  halga  petrus  .  244 

hi  to  bedde  gdn  and  beon  eft^"  seoc  , 

Heo  }3eah  Sa  on  godes  ege  ^^  and  god  hi  eft  gehselde  ^°  . 

swa  pcet  heo  sylf  mihte  manega  otSre  gehselen''^^  . 

^  B.  i-aewod.  "^  U.  sefter-ge-gencgednysse  ;  B.  sefter -gancnysse.  '  B. 

mot.  *  B.  swa  beon.  *  U.  msessadan  ;  B.  inesseden.  *  U. 

cliEnum  {sic);  for  1.  226,  B.  has — and  cheas  serest  his  twelf  apos^olas.  and 
sy'SSan  alle  ])a  clene  heorte  to  his  clsene  J)eow-dome.  ''  B.  mi  na.  '  B. 

burdum.  »  IT.  B.  sceolon.  i"  U.  B.  saede.  "  TJ.  lage ;  B.  laeg. 

"  B.  saede.  ^^  Leaf  56,  back.  "  B.  halga.  "  U.  om. 

!«-!«  B.  wolde  oSre  i-lefede  alle  hselen.         "  B.  gifsen,         >»•>«  B.  ge-refum  {sic) 
al  ajidsund  alle  Kmen.  '^  B.  om.  '^^'^  B.  eode  to  hire  bedde  oSSet 

god  hire  eft  haelde.  ^'  U.  ge-huilan  ;  B.  hielen. 


X.    CHAIR   OF    SAINT   PETER.  235 

an  espoused  wife,  for  the  certain  succession, 

that  is,  that  the  son  should  always  succeed  to  the  priesthood, 

after  his  father's  death,  and  no  other  might  do  so. 

It  might  well  be  so  then,  because  they  never  celebrated  mass, 

but  they  offered  beasts  in  their  sacrifices  to  God, 

neither  was  the  housel  consecrated  before  Jesus  came,  224 

and  instituted  the  New  Covenant  with  the  Christian  people, 

and  chose  the  pure  for  His  pure  service, 

not  unto  the  offering  of  beasts,  but  unto  His  own  body; 

and  bishops  are  not  now  chosen  according  to  lineage,  228 

but  the  holy  church  loveth  the  chaste, 

and  Christ  will  have  those  that  serve  Him  in  chastity 

at  the  living  sacrifice  of  His  body  and  blood. 

We  have  to  speak  about  the  wise  Petronilla,  232 

the  blessed  Peter's  daughter,  but  this  occurred  to  our  mind.) 

The  aforesaid  Marcellus  said  that  she  lay 

in  a  palsy  even  as  Peter  himself  willed  it. 

Then  Titus  enquired  of  the  blessed  Apostle,  236 

why  he  suffered  her  so  to  lie  on  a  sick  bed, 

when  he  healed  all  other  cripples,  and  she  alone  lay  so? 

Then  said  the  holy  father,  that  it  was  for  her  profit, 

'But,  lest  any  one  should  think  that  our  word  cannot  240 

give  her  healing,  I  command  her  now  to  arise 

and  serve  us  all;'   and  she  immediately  arose, 

served  her  father,  and  his  companions,  being  made  whole. 

After  this  attendance  the  holy  Peter  commanded  344 

her  to  go  to  bed,  and  be  again  diseased. 

Thus  she  was  perfected  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  God  healed  her  again, 

so  that  she  might  herself  heal  many  others, 


236  X.    CATHEDRA    SANCTI    PETRI. 

Jjurh  halige  gebedu  ^  on  tSses  haelendes  naman  .  248 

Hire  wses  sum  o|?er  mseden  geferlseht  felicula  gehaten 

ful-fremed  on  godes  ege  .  and  on  ealre  godnysse  ^  . 

ac  petronella  wses  swySe  wlitig  on  hiwe  . 

pa  com  sum  heretoga  .  se  waes  gehaten  flaccus  .  252 

mid  mycelre  fare  to  Jjaere  mseran  petronellan  , 

wolde  hi  niman  to  wife  for  hire  wlitigan  hiwe  . 

pa  cwcbS  \)cet  halige  maeden  to  j^am  hsej^enan  menn  ^  . 

hwi  come  Jju  mid  wsepnum  and  raid  wselreowum  cempum      256 

to  anum  msedene  unmihtigum  to  wige  . 

ac  gif  <5u  me  habban  wylt  hat  cuman  to  me 

secSelborenne  wif  .  and  wlitige  mgedenu 

nu  sefter  tSrym  dagum  .  and  ic  efne  mid  him  260 

to  j^inum  huse  cume  .  and  he  hire  gelyfde*  . 

Hwset  pa.  petronella  mid  ^fsestenum  hi  gebsed^ 

to  tSam  heofonlican  cynincge  .  pe  heo  gecoren  hsefde 

on  eallum  j?am  fyrste  .  and  felicula  samod  .  264 

d^pcet  nicoraedis  se  msesse-preost  com 

on  Jjam  tSriddan  dsege  .  and  dyde  him  msessan  . 

and  seo  halige  petronella  ]3a  husel  under-feng  . 

gewende  ^  to  hire  bedde  and  gew^t  sona  .  268 

pa  comon  ]5a  wif  swa  heo  ''  hgefde  gecwseden ''  . 

and  be-hwurfon^  hire  lie  oppcet  heo  bebyrged  wses  . 

swylce  hi  forSan  comon  pcet  hi  Jja  fsemnan  bestodon  . 

pa  awende  se  flaccus  to  feliculan  his  mod  .  272 

and  cweej)  hire  jjus  to  mid  Jjrutigendum  mode  . 

Geceos  j^e  nu  ardlice^  an  ]3yssere^°  twaegra^^  . 

oJ)J)e  tSu  beo  min  wif  .  otSSe  gebuh^^  to  urum  godum 

and  him  Idc  geoffra  .  ac  heo  him  aTtdwyvde  pus  .  276 

Ne  beo  ^^ic  nsefre  |?in  wif  .  for'San  pe  ic  sylfwylles  eom 

criste  gehalgod  .  ne  ic  J^am  hsejjenum  godum 

lac  ne  geoffrige  .  for^an  pe  ic  on  crist  gelyfe  ^*  . 

^  B.  bedum.  ^  U.  gdddnysse.  '  B.  pegnum.  *  B.  lefde. 

^5  B.  festine  hire  bed.  *  U.  B.  and  gewende.  '''''  U.  ge-cweden 

hEefde;  B.  f-cw£edenh£efde.  «  B.  bi-byrfon.  »  B.  heardlice.  "  XJ. 

%8ra.  "  U.  twegra  ;  B.  twegrse.  ^^  B.  ])u  buh.  "  Leaf  57. 

^*  B.  ic  criste  Myfe. 


X.   CHAIR  OF   SAINT  PETER.  237 

through  holy  prayers,  in  the  Name  of  Jesus.  248 

"With  her  another  maiden  was  brought  up  named  Felicula  [her 

foster-sister], 
perfect  in  God's  fear,  and  in  all  goodness; 
but  Petronilla  was  very  fair  of  face. 

Then  came  a  certain  ruler,  who  was  called  Flaccus  252 

with  a  great  company  to  Petronilla  the  maiden, 
and  desired  to  take  her  to  wife  for  her  fair  face. 
Then  said  the  holy  maiden  to  the  heathen  man, 
'Why  hast  thou  come  with  weapons,  and  rude  soldiers  256 

unto  a  maiden  powerless  for  war? 
but  if  thou  wilt  have  me,  bid  come  unto  me 
noble  matrons,  and  fair  maidens 

three  days  hence,  and  behold,  I  will  with  these  260 

come  to  thy  house,'  and  he  believed  her. 
So  then  Petronilla  prayed  with  fasting 
to  the  heavenly  king,  who  had  chosen  her, 

during  all  that  space,  and  Felicula  with  her,  264 

until  Nicomedes  the  mass-priest  came 
on  the  third  day,  and  said  mass  for  them, 
and  the  holy  Petronilla  received  the  housel, 
returned  to  her  bed,  and  quickly  died.  268 

Then  came  the  women  as  they  had  agreed, 
and  swathed  her  body  until  she  was  buried, 
as  if  they  had  come  for  the  purpose  of  attending  to  the  woman. 
Then  Flaccus  turned  his  mind  to  Felicula,  272 

and  thus  said  to  her  with  a  threatening  manner, 
'Choose  thee  now  quickly  one  of  these  two  things. 
Either  be  my  wife,  or  bow  to  our  gods, 

and  oflfer  sacrifice  to  them;'   but  she  answered  him  thus,        276 
*I  will  never  be  thy  wife,  because  that  of  my  own  will 
I  am  dedicated  to  Christ,  neither  will  I  offer  sacrifice 
to  the  heathen  gods,  because  I  believe  in  Christ.' 


238  XI.   NATALE    QUADRAGINTA   MILITUM, 

pa  h6t  se  arleasa  flaccus  .  |?a  fsemnan  gebringan  280 

on  ]?yster-fullum  ^  cwearterne  .  and  cwoe'S  .  pcei  man^  ne  sceolde 
senigne^  bigleofan  hire  don  biiinon  seofon  nihton*  . 
Heo  wunode  J?a  swd  seofon  niht  meteleas  . 

and  sy6t5an  weartS  getintregod  for  J)an  sotSan  geleafan  284 

and  for  hyre  msegS-hade  dS^pcet  heo  weartS  gemartyrod  . 
and  hire  gast  ferde  freoh  to  heofonum  , 
pa  com  nicomedis  se  fore-sseda  masse-preost . 
and  bebyrgde  ^  hire  lie  to  lofe  Jjam  selmihtigan  .  288 

pa  gelsehte  flaccus  Jjone  geleaf-fullan  preost  . 
and  forSan  Ipe  he  nolde  J)am  fulum  godum  geoffrian  . 
het  hine  beswingan  o^\)cet  he  sawlode  . 

He  gewat  J?a  to'heofonan  to  hselende  criste  .  292 

]?am    is    wuldor  and  wurtS-mynt  ®   .  on   ealra   worulda   woruld  . 
AMEN". 


XL 

VII.  IDUS  MAnTIAS.    'NATALE  SANCTOBUM 
QUADRAGINTA  MILITUM. 

WE  WYLLAD  Eow  GEEECCAN  IpJERA  fcowcrtlgra  cempcna  tJro- 
wunge  . 
pcet  eower  geleafa  \>g  trumre  sy  .  Jjonne  ge  gehyratS 
hu  Jjegenlice  hi  Jjrowodon  for  criste  . 

On  Tpses  caseres  dagum  J)e  wees  gehaten  licinius  4 

wearcS  astyred  mycel  ehtnys  ofer  fta  cristenan  . 
swa  Ipoet  selc  cristen  mann  sceolde  te  his  agenum  feore 
Jjam  hselende  wi?5-sacan  and  to  hse'Senscype  gebugan  . 
and  ])&m  deofolgyldum  drihtnes  wurjjmynt  gebeodan  .  8 

pa  wses  geset  sum  wselhreowa  dema 
agricolaus  geciged  .  on  anre  byrig 
sebastia  gehaten  .  on  Jjam  lande  armenia  . 
Se  fore-ssede  dema  wses  switSe  arleas  .  12 

^  U.  'Seosterfullum ;  B.  'Seosterfule.  "  B.  nara  mow.  '  B.  om. 

*  U.  nihtum  ;  B.  nihte.  ^  U.  be-byrigde  ;  B.  burigde.  *  B.  war's- 

ment  i. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  239 

Then  commanded  the  wicked  Flaccus  to  bring  the  maiden     280 

into  a  very  dark  prison,  and  said,  that  no  man  was  to 

give  her  any  sustenance  for  seven  nights. 

Thus  she  remained  seven  nights  meatless, 

and  was  afterwards  tortured  for  the  sake  of  the  true  faith,    284 

and  for  the  sake  of  her  virginity,  until  she  was  mart3n:ed, 

and  her  free  soul  departed  to  Heaven. 

Then  came  Nicomedes  the  aforesaid  mass-priest, 

and  buried  her  body,  to  the  praise  of  the  Almighty.  288 

Then  Flaccus  seized  the  faithful  priest, 

and,  because  he  would  not  sacrifice  to  the  foul  gods, 

commanded  him  to  be  scourged  until  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 

Thus  he  departed  to  Heaven  to  Jesus  Christ,  292 

To  AVhom  is  glory  and  worship  world  without  end.     Amen. 


XI. 

MARCH  9.    THE  FORTY  SOLDIERS,  MARTYRS. 

We  will  relate  to  you  the  Passion  of  the  Forty  Soldiers, 

that  your  faith  may  be  the  firmer  when  ye  hear 

how  devotedly  (lit.  thane-like)  they  suffered  for  Christ. 

In  the  emperor's  days  who  was  called  licinius  4 

a  great  persecution  was  stirred  up  against  the  Christians, 

so  that  every  Christian  man  had,  for  the  sake  of  his  own  life, 

to  deny  the  Saviour  and  conform  to  heathenism, 

and  to  sacrifice  the  Lord's  honour  to  idols.  8 

There  was  set  a  certain  bloodthirsty  judge, 

called  Agricola,  in  a  city 

bight  Sebaste,  in  the  land  of  Armenia. 

The  aforesaid  judge  was  very  wicked,  13 


240  XI.  NATALE   QUADRAGINTA   MILITUM. 

cristenra  manna  ehtere  and  arod  to  deofles  willan  . 

pa  het  se  cwellere  J)ses  caseres  cempan 

ealle  geoffrian  .  teora  Mc  pam  godum  . 

pa  wseron  on  Jjam  camp-dome  cappadonisce  cempan  .  i6 

feowertig  cristenra^  unforhte  on  mode  . 

sew-fsestlice  libbende  sefter  godes  lare  . 

pas  gelsehte  se  ^dema  and  gelsedde  hi  to  Jjam  deofolgyldum  . 

and  cwaeS  mid  olecunge  .  \)cet  hi  aejjele  cempan  wseron  .  20 

and  on  selcum  gefeohle  fsest-rsede  him  betwynan  . 

and  symle  sige-fseste  on  swi|3licum  gewinne  . 

set-eowiacS  nu  fortSi  eowre  anrsednysse  . 

and  eow  sylfe  under-JjeodatS  J^sera  cyninga  gesetnyssum  .  24 

and  geoiFriaS  p&m  godum  serj^am  ]?e  gebeon  getintregode  . 

pa  cwsedon  ]?a  cristenan  .  to  t5am  cwellere  Ipus  . 

Oft  we  oferswiSdon  swa  swa  Jju  sylf  wistest 

ure  witSer-winnan  on  gehwylcum  gewinne  .  28 

ba  ba  we  fuhton  for  6am  deadlicum  kynincge  . 

ac  us  gedafenatS  swytSor  mid  geswince  to  campigenne  . 

for  Jjam  undead-licum  cynincge  and  J)e  ofer-switJan  . 

pa  cwoetS  se  deroa  ])cet  hi  o]?er  |?8era  dydon  .  32 

swa  hi  J?am  godum  geoffrodon  and  arwurtSnysse  hsefdon  . 

swa  hi  tSa  offrunge  for-sawon  and  gescynde  wurdon  . 

smeaget5  nu  ic  bidde  hwset  eow  betst  fremige  . 

Da  halgan  awcifwyrdon  Jjam  hse?5enan  cwellere  .  36 

Drihten  foresceawaS  .  hwset  us  fremige  . 

pa  h6t  se  cwellere  hi  on  cwearterne  gebringan  . 

hwset  Ipa  halgan  pa,  heora  cneowa  bigdon 

binnon  Jsam  cwearterne  J?us  biddende  crist  .  4° 

Alys  us  nu  drihten  fram  deoflicum  costnungum  . 

and  fram  eallum  seswicungum  unrihtwisra  wyrhtena  . 

Hi  sungon  on  sefenunga  eft  o'Serne  sealm  . 

and  on  heora  gebedum  wunodon  )jurh-wacole  o?S  midde  niht .    44 

pa  set-eowde  se  hselend  hine  sylfne  his  halgum  . 

and  hi  ]3us  getrymde  to  Jjam  to-weardan  ge-winne  . 

God  is  eower  anginn  .  and  eower  inngehyd 

1  '  ra '  in  a  different  hand.  *  Leaf  57,  back. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  241 

a  persecutor  of  Christian  men,  and  ready  to  the  devil's  will. 
Then  commanded  the  murderer  that  all  the  emperor's  soldiers 
should  offer  their  sacrifices  to  the  gods. 

There  were  in  the  army  (warfare)  Cappadocian  soldiers,  i6 

forty  Christians,  unfearful  in  mind, 
living  piously  after  the  doctrine  of  God ; 
these  the  judge  seized  and  led  them  to  the  idol-sacrifice, 
and  said  with  flattery  that  they  were  noble  soldiers,  20 

and  in  every  conflict  constant  to  each  other, 
and  ever  victorious  in  sharp  conflict. 
*  Show  now  therefore  your  constancy, 

and  subject  yourselves  to  the  king's  commands,  24 

and  sacrifice  to  the  gods  before  ye  be  tormented.' 
Then  spake  the  Christians  to  the  murderer  thus ; 
'Often  have  we  overcome,  even  as  thou  thyself  knowest, 
our  adversaries  in  every  battle,  28 

when  we  fought  for  the  mortal  king; 
but  it  becometh  us  even  more  with  toil  to  fight 
for  the  immortal  King  and  to  withstand  thee.' 
Then   said   the  judge   that   they    should   do   one   of  these    two 
things,  32 

either  they  must  sacrifice  to  the  gods  and  have  honour, 
or  else  contemn  the  offering  and  be  put  to  shame; 
'Consider  now,  I  pray  you,  what  will  best  profit  you.' 
The  saints  answered  the  heathen  murderer,  36 

'The  Lord  will  foreshow  what  may  profit  us.' 
Then  bade  the  murderer  to  bring  them  into  a  dungeon. 
So  then  the  saints  bowed  their  knees 

within  the  dungeon,  thus  praying  Christ,  40 

'  Deliver  us  now.  Lord,  from  the  devil's  temptations, 
and  from  all  the  deceits  of  unrighteous  workers.' 
They  sang  in  the  evening  again  another  psalm, 
and  continued  vigilant  in  their  prayers  until  midnight.  44 

Then  the  Saviour  manifested  Himself  to  His  saints, 
and  thus  encouraged  them  to  the  coming  conflict: 
'  God  is  your  beginning  (guide)  and  your  encouragement, 

16 


242  XI.   NATALE   QUADRAGINTA   MILITUM. 

ac  se  bits  gehealden  se|5e  d<S  ende  ]5urh-wunatS  .  48 

Ealle  hi  gehyrdon  Ipses  hselendes  word 
and  wurdon  afyrhte  .  and  forcSi  jjurh-wunodon 
buton  sloepe  o'S  dseg  .  heora  drihten  msersigende  . 
Hwset  pa  agricolaus  on  seme  mergen  gegaderode  52 

his  geborenan  magas  to  his  manfullan  ge|>eahte  . 
and  het  him  to  Isedan  Ipa.  halgan  godes  cempan  . 
Hi  pSL  ealle  feowertig  set-foran  him  stodon 

Jja  began  se  de'ma  eft  hi  herigan  .  56 

cwsetS  pcet  heora  gelican  nseron  on  Jjges  caseres  lande 
ne  swa  ge-herede  .  ne  him  swa  leofe  . 
gif  hi  noldon  awendan  pa,  lufe  to  hatunge  . 
pa  cwaedon  J?a  halgan  .  pcet  hi  hine  hatodon  60 

for  his  geleaf-leaste  .  and  lufedon  heora  drihten  . 
pa  grimetede  se  wselhreowa  swa  swa  graedig  leo  . 
and  het  hi  gebringan  gebundene  on  cwearterne  . 
for'San  pe  he  anbidode  ]38es  ealdormannes  to-cymes  .  64 

pa  com  se  ealdorman  'Saes  embe  seofon  niht . 
and  het  sona  gelangian  pa.  geleaffuUaa  halgan  . 
pa  cwoe'5  heora  an  .  his  nama  waes  quirion  . 
Eala  ge  gebrotSra  iiton  beon  gehyrte  .  68 

swa  oft  swa  we  clypodon  to  criste  on  gefeohte 
we  wurdon  sige-fseste  sona  J)urh  his  fultum  . 
and  we  eac  ofer-swiSdon  ]3one  onsigendan  here  . 
Hwilon  we  wseron  on  micclum  gewinne  .  72 

and  eall  ure  folc  mid  fleame  set-wand 
buton  we  feowertig  pe  on  'Sam  feohte  stodon  . 
biddende  georne  ures  drihtnes  fultuw  . 

and  sume  we  afligdon  sume  feollan  aetforan  us  .  76 

and  ure  an  nses  gsederod  [sic)  fram  ealre  pBsva  meniu  . 
Nu  is  ure  witSer-winna  ]5es  wsel-hreowa  heretoga  . 
otSer  is  se  dema  .  and  se  deofol  Jjridda  . 

Jjas  Sry  syrwiatS  hu  hi  us  beswicon  .  80 

ac  uton  nu  clypian  crist  us  to  gefylstan  . 
and  pa  egeslican  tintregu  .  ne  ]?a  teartan  witu  . 

>  Leaf  58. 


XI.    THE   FORTY    SOLDIERS,    MARTYKS.  243 

but  he  Bhall  be  upheld  who  continueth  to  the  end.'  48 

They  all  heard  the  Saviour's  words, 

and  were  affrighted,  and  therefore  continued 

without  sleep  until  day,  magnifying  their  Lord. 

Then  Agricola  in  the  early  morning  gathered  52 

his  born  kinsmen  to  his  wicked  council, 

and  bade  lead  to  him  the  holy  soldiers  of  God. 

So  they  all  forty  stood  before  him. 

Then  began  the  judge  again  to  praise  them,  56 

saying  that  there  were  none  like  them  in  the  emperor's  land, 

neither  so  extolled  nor  so  dear  to  him, 

if  they  would  not  turn  that  love  to  hate. 

Then  said  the  saints  that  they  hated  him  60 

for  his  unbelief,  and  loved  their  Lord. 

Then  raged  the  cruel  one  like  a  greedy  lion, 

and  bade  that  they  should  be  brought  bound  into  the  dungeon, 

because  he  awaited  the  chief  magistrate's  coming.  64 

Then  about  a  se'nnight  after  this  the  chief  magistrate  came, 

and  immediately  bade  summon  the  faithful  saints. 

Then  said  one  of  them,  whose  name  was  Quirio, 

*  Oh  ye  brothers,  let  us  be  encouraged ;  68 

as  often  as  we  have  cried  to  Christ  in  the  fight, 

we  were  victorious  straightway  through  His  succour, 

and  we  likewise  overcame  the  approaching  army. 

Once  we  were  in  a  great  conflict,  73 

and  all  our  people  escaped  by  flight, 

except  we  forty  who  stood  to  the  fight, 

earnestly  entreating  our  Lord's  assistance, 

and  some  we  put  to  flight,  others  fell  before  us,  76 

and  not  one  of  us  was  harmed  by^  all  that  multitude. 

Now  is  our  adversary  this  bloodthirsty  Prefect, 

another  is  the  judge,  and  a  third  is  the  devil; 

these  three  lay  snares  how  they  may  deceive  us ;  80 

but  let  us  now  call  Christ  to  help  us, 

and  neither  the  awful  tortures,  nor  the  sharp  punishments, 

^  Read  ge-derod,  harmed ;  not  gaderod,  gathered. 

16—2 


244  XI.    NATALE    QUADRAGINTA    MILITUM.  '' 

ne  senige  bendas  us  ne  beoS  to  bealwe  . 

^fre  we  wseron  gefultumode  on  selcum  gefeohte  84 

swa  oft  swa  we  sungon  ]5isne  senne  sealm  , 

Deus  In  nomine  tuo  saluum  me  fac  et  in  uirtute  tua  libera  me  . 

Ei  cetera  .  [poet  is  on  englisc^;] 
pu  selmihtiga  god  gehsel  me  on  J)inum  naman  . 
and  on  Jjinre  milite  me  alys  [eaP]  wealdend  .  88 

Hi  wurdon  pa  gelsedde  mid  ]?ysum  lofsange  to  pena  reSum. 
and  comon  gehwylce  to  j^sere  wsefer-syne  . 
pa.  beheold  se  heretoga  pa  halgan  and  cwsej)  . 
Ge  sceolan  habban  set  me  .  wyrtSmyntas  and  sceattas  .  92 

gif  ge  urum  godum   offrian  wyllacS  . 
Gif  ge  J?onne  beoS  Jjwyre  to  J^isum 
ge  beoS  geunwurcSode  .  and  eac  ^gewitnode  . 
pa  cwsedon  ]3a  halgan  pcet  hi  tSone  hgelend  wur'Sodon  .  96 

and  naenne  ocSerne  swa  healicne  ne  tealdon  . 
pa  h6t  se  ealdorman  mid  ormsetum  graman  . 
heora  neb  beatan  mid  blacum  flintum  . 

ac  pa  stanas  wend  on  wicS  )?sera  ehtera  lop 

swa  poet  tSa  cwelleras  hi  sylfe  enucodon  . 
pa  gelsehte  se  ealdorman  .  senne  ormetne  flint 
wearp  to  )5am  halgum  .  ac  he  wand  J)wyres 
to  ]?am  heah-gerefan  .  and  his  heafod  to-brsec  .  104 

pa  wurdon  ]3a  halgan  swy]?e  gehyrte  . 
and  sungan  sona  J)isne  sang  mid  geleafan  . 

Qui  trihvlant  me  Inimici  mei  fysi  infirmati  sunt  et  ceciderunt  . 
Mine  fynd  J^e    me  gedrefdon   syndon   geuntrumode   .   and   aduji 

feollon  .  108 

pa  swor  se  dema  pcet  hi  ]5urh  dry-crsefte  . 
Jja  stanas  awendon  to  heora  witnerum  . 
pa  het  se  ealdor-man  hi  ardlice  Isedan 

seft  Into  cwearterne  .  and  mid  carfullum  mode  iia 

smeade  wicS  his  rsedboran  hwset  him  to  rsede  Jsuhte  . 
hu  he  raihte  his  hosp  on  ]3am  halgum  gewrecan  . 
Hi  wurdon  ]?a  gebrohte  binnan  ]5am  cwearterne  . 

^  Added  in  a  later  hand.  "  Leaf  58,  J)ack. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  245 

nor  any  bonds  shall  be  for  our  bale. 

Ever  have  we  been  helped  in  each  fight,  84 

as  often  as  we  have  sung  this  one  psalm, 

Deus  in  nomine  tuo  saluum  me  fac,  et  in  virtute  tua  libera  me : 

et  cetera.'     That  is  in  English, 
'Thou,  Almighty  God,  save  me  in  Thy  Name, 
and  in  Thy  might  deliver  me,  Ruler  of  all.'  88 

Thereupon  they  were   brought  with  this   song  of  praise  to  the 

cruel  one, 
and  every  one  came  to  the  spectacle. 
Then  the  Prefect  looked  on  the  saints,  and  said, 

*  Ye  shall  have  from  me  honours  and  riches,  92 
if  ye  will  sacrifice  to  our  gods; 

but  if  ye  then  shall  be  perverse  against  this, 

ye  shall  be  dishonoured  and  likewise  tortured.' 

Then  said  the  saints,  that  they  worshipped  the  Saviour,  96 

and  accounted  none  other  so  high. 

Then  commanded  the  chief  magistrate,  with  exceeding  anger, 

to  beat  their  faces  with  black  flints, 

but  the  stones  turned  against  the  persecutors,  100 

so  that  the  murderers  knocked  themselves. 

Then  the  chief  magistrate  seized  an  exceeding  great  flint, 

and  threw  it  at  the  saints,  but  it  turned  backward 

towards  the  Prefect  and  brake  open  his  head.  104 

Then  were  the  saints  greatly  heartened, 

and  straightway  sung  this  song  with  faith, 

*  Qui  tribulant  me  inimici  mei  i2>si  infirmati  sunt  et  ceciderunt' 
'My    foes    who    afflicted    me    are    weakened    and    have    fallen 

down.'  108 

THien  swore  the  judge  that  they  through  sorcery 
had  turned  the  stones  against  their  tormentors. 
Then  commanded  the  chief  magistrate  to  bring  them  quickly 
again  into  the  prison,  and  with  anxious  mind  112 

sought  out  with  his  counsellors  what  seemed  to  them  advisable, 
how  he  might  wreak  his  contumely  on  the  saints. 
So  they  were  brought  into  the  prison, 


246  XI.   NATALE    QUADRAGINTA  MILITUM. 

and  sungon  Jjysne  sealm  mid  swyj^licre  blysse  .  ii6 

Ad  te  leuaui  oculos  meos  qui  habitas  in  cells  .  et  cetera  .  \lpcet 

is  on  englisc^] 
To  Ipe  ic  ahsebbe  mine  eagan  drihten  . 

Jju  }?o  eardast  on  heofonum  .  and  hi  ealne  tSone  sealm  sungon  . 
Hwset  J?a  on  middere  nihte  com  se  selmihtiga  drihten  120 

of  tSsere  healican  heofonan  .  and  his  halgan  geneosode  » 
and  ]?ysum  wordu??i  gesprsec'^  pe  her  synd  awrytene  . 
Se  J5e  so'Slice  gelyf  cS  on  |?one  lyfigendan  feeder  . 
and  on  his  ancennedan  sunu  .  and  on  J)one  halgan  gast  .        124 
Jjeah  Ipe  he  dead  beo  .  he  biS  swa  J^eah  cucu  . 
BeotS  gehyrte  .  and  eow  ne  ondrsedatS  J^sera  hseSenra  wita 
Ipe  synd  hwilwend-lice  .  BeotS  gej^yldige  on  ]?issere  hvvile  . 
"jpcet  ge  beon  gewuldor-beagode  on  J?sere  ecan  worulde  .  128 

pa  wunodon  Jja  halgan  J3urh-wacole  otS  mergen  . 
on  heofonlicre  blysse  Jjurh  J?ses  haelendes  cyme  . 
J3a  het  se  ealdor-man  hi  on  mergen  gefeccan  . 
and  hi  ealle  cwsedon  swylce  mid  anum  ^mutSe  .  132 

Dots  nu  be  us  ])cet  pcet  drihten  wile  . 

pa  com  eac  se  deofol  .  and  heefde  senne  dracan  on  handa  . 
and  swurd  on  ocSre  .  |?us  secgende  J?am  deman  . 
pu  eart  min  agen  ongin  nu  swij^e  wel  .  136 

Swylce  h6  cwaede  ofer-swiS  ]?as  cristenan 
jjurh  tearte  wita  .  pcet  hi  to  me  gebugan  . 

pa  geweartS  pam  ehterum  on  heora  yfelum  gej^eahte  . 

pcet  hi  }?a  godes  halgan  on  heardum  bendum  geleddon  .  140 

to  anum  bradum  mere  mid  bysmorfullum  edwite  . 

On  Jjam  timan  waes  swij?e  hefig-time  wynter  . 

and  se  fore-sseda  mere  wses  mid  forste  ofer-]?eaht . 

and  se  winterlica  wind  wan  mid  ]3am  forste  .  144 

pa  scufon  J^a  h8e|7enan  ]?a  halgan  Into  J^am  mere  . 

to  middes  j^am  ise  ealle  unscrydde  . 

and  heom*  weardas  setton  |3urh-vvacole  menn  . 

"jpcet  heora  nan  ne  mihte  mid  fleame  set-berstan  .  148 

^  Added  in  a  later  hand.  "  The  se  loohs  lil'e  ei,  and  the  r  u  aloie  the 

line.  ^  Leaf  59.  *  MS.  him,  alt.  to  heom. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,   MARTYRS.  247 

and  sung  this  psalm  with  exceeding  joy,  ii6 

'Ad  te  leitaui  oculos  meos,  qui  habitas  in  celts,  et  cetera^     That 
is  in  English, 

*  To  Thee  I  lift  up  mine  eyes,  0  Lord, 

Thou  that   dwellest   in   the   heavens,'  and   they  sung  the  whole 

psalm. 
Lo,  then  !    at  midnight  came  the  Almighty  Lord  120 

from  the  high  heaven,  and  visited  His  saints, 
and  spake  these  words  that  are  here  written : 
'He  who  truly  believeth  on  the  living  Father, 
and  on  His  only-begotten  Son,  and  on  the  Holy  Ghost,  124 

though  he  be  dead,  nevertheless  he  shall  live ; 
be  heartened,  and  be  not  afraid  of  the  torments  of  the  heathen, 
which  are  but  transitory;  be  patient  for  this  while, 
that  ye  may  be  crowned  with  glory  in  the  eternal  world.'      128 
Then  the  saints  continued  watching  until  morning 
in  heavenly  bliss,  through  the  Saviour's  coming. 
Then  in  the  morning  the  magistrate  bade  fetch  them, 
and  they  all  said  as  if  with  one  mouth,  13a 

*  Do  now  by  us  that  which  the  Lord  will.' 

Then  came  also  the  devil,  and  had  a  serpent  in  one  hand 

and  a  sword  in  the  other,  thus  saying  to  the  judge, 

•Thou  art  my  own,  begin  now  right  well;'  136 

as  if  he  had  said,  '  Overcome  these  Christians 

through  sliarp  tortures  that  they  may  submit  to  me.' 

Then  it  came  to  [the   minds  of]  the  persecutors,  in  their  evil 

thought, 
that  they  would  lead  God's  saints  in  heavy  chains  140 

to  a  broad  mere  with  ignominous  taunts. 
At  that  time  there  was  a  very  severe  winter, 
and  the  foresaid  mere  was  covered  over  with  ice, 
and  the  winterly  wind  raged  as  well  as  the  frost.  144 

Then  the  heathens  shoved  the  saints  into  the  mere, 
into  the  middle  of  the  ice,  all  unclothed, 
and  set  vigilant  men  for  warders  over  them, 
that  none  of  them  might  escape  by  flight.  148 


248  XI.    NATALE    QUADRAGINTA   MILITUM. 

peer  wses  eac  geset  swi|?e  gehende  ]?am  mere . 

wearm  wseter  on  cyfe  .  gif  Jjsera  cyj^era  hwylc 

wolde  foi'laetan  his  geleafan  .  and  his  lie  bacSian 

on  Jjam  wearman  wsetere  ..  for  "Sses  wyntres  teartnysse  .  152 

Hit  begann  J^a  on  sefnunge  egeslice  freosan  . 

pcet  Ipoet  is  befencg  pa,  foressedan  martyras  . 

sw4  Ifxet  heora  flsesc  for  Sam  forste  tobaerst  . 

pa  eargode  heora  dn  for  ]5am  ormsetum  cyle  .  156 

awearp  his  geleafan  and  wolde  hine  ba'Sian 

on  ]7am  wlacum  wsetere  and  wende  fram  his  geferum  . 

ac  he  gewdt  sona  swa  he  Ipcet  wseter  hrepode  . 

and  wear's  sec  wearmnys  him  awend  to  deaSe  .  160 

for]?an  pe  his  geleafa  ne  geleaste  oS  ende  . 

swa  swa  drihten  ssede  him  sylf  on  j^am  cwearteme  . 

pa  gesawon  pa,  oSre  hu  j?am  anura  getimode  . 

and  sungon  ]?ysne  sang  .  swylce  of  anum  muSe  .  164 

Ne  yrsa  Su  drihten  us  on  Sysum  deopum  flodum  . 

ne  |?in  hat-heortnys  on  jjyssere  ea  ne  sy . 

Se  pe  hine  ascyrede  for  )?yssere  scearpnysse  fram  us  . 

his  lima  synd  toslopene  and  he  sona  losode  .  168 

We  nellaS  drihten  nsefre  fram  pe  twseman  , 

oS  p3et  Su  us  gelyf-fseste  pe  to  lofe  drihten  . 

we  ge^cygaS  J?inne  naman  .  |?onne^  pe  soSlice  heriaS 

ealle  gesceafta  .  and  ealle  niwelnyssa'  .  172; 

fyr  .  and  hagol  ,  snaw  .  and  ceald  is  . 

windas  .  and  stormas  .  pe  J^in  word  gefyllaS  . 

pu  gsest  ofer  see  swa  swa  ofer  grenre  eorSan  . 

and  ]7U  sej^elice  gestilst  hyre  strangan  ySa  .  176 

pu  gehyrdest  drihten  ]?one  heah-fseder  lacob  . 

jsajja  he  for-fleah  }ja  frecenfullan  ]5eowracan  . 

pe  his  agen  bro]?or  esau  gecwseS  . 

pu  wsere  mid  iosepe  In  aegypto-laude  .  180 

and  hine  of  J^eowdome  ahofe  to  hlaforde  . 

pa  gelseddest  moysen  of  Sam  ylcan  lande 

^  Leaf  59,  back.  *  MS.  ])one,  alt.  to  Jxmne  (wroitgly). 

^  MS,  niwelnysse,  alt.  to  niwelnyKsa. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,   MAKTYBS.  249 

There  was  also  set,  very  handy  to  the  mere, 

warm  water  in  a  vessel,  if  any  of  the  martyrs 

desired  to  forsake  his  faith  and  bathe  his  body 

in  the  warm  water,  for  the  winter's  tartness.  152 

Then  it  began  in  the  evening  to  freeze  awfully, 

so  that  the  ice  seized  upon  the  aforesaid  martyrs, 

so  that  their  flesh  cracked  by  reason  of  the  frost. 

Then  one  of  them  turned  coward  on  account  of  the  exceeding 

chill,  i!;6 

cast  away  his  faith,  and  desired  to  bathe  himself 
in  the  luke  water,  and  turned  from  his  companions; 
but  he  died  as  soon  as  he  touched  the  water, 
and  the  warmness  was  turned  into  death  to  him,  160 

because  his  faith  did  not  last  until  the  end, 
even  as  the  Lord  Himself  said  in  the  prison. 
Then  the  others  saw  how  it  befell  that  one, 
and  sung  this  song,  as  if  with  one  mouth,  164 

*  Be  not  angry  with  us.  Lord,  in  these  deep  floods, 
neither  let  Thy  hot  displeasure  be  in  tbis  water. 
As  for  him  who  for  this  sharpness  separated  himself  from  us, 
his  limbs  are  relaxed  and  he  has  quickly  perished ;  168 

we  will  never  part  from  Thee,  0  Lord, 
until  Thou  quicken  us,  0  Lord,  to  Thy  praise. 
"We  will  show  forth  Thy  name,  Thee  whom  verily  praise 
all  creatures  and  all  deeps,  172 

fire  and  hail,  snow  and  cold  ice, 
winds  and  storms,  which  fulfil  Thy  word. 
Thou  goest  over  gea  even  as  over  green  earth, 
and  Thou  easily  stillest  her  strong  waves;  176 

Thou  heardest,  Lord,  the  patriarch  Jacob 
when  he  fled  away  from  the  wicked  threats 
which  his  own  brother  Esau  spake. 

Thou  wert  with  Joseph  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  180 

and  didst  raise  him  from  serfdom  to  lordship ; 
Thou  leddest  Moses  from  that  .same  land 


250  XI.   NATALE    QUADEAGINTA   MILITUM. 

eft  mid  israhele  folce  Jjurh  fela  tacna  . 

and  him  weg  gerymdest  on  Jjsere  readan  sse  .  184 

pu  gehyrdest  eac  siSSan  Ipine  halgan  apostolas  . 
gehyr  us  nu  drihten  on  J)ysum  deopum  flode  . 
and  ne  Iset  us  besencan  on  tSissere  cealdan  hreohnysse  . 
ne  us  ne  forswelge  J^es  swearta  grund  .  188 

"We  synd  earmingas  gelielp  us  nu  drihten  . 
We  synd  gesette  on  sselicum  grunde  . 
and  ure  blod  &ed^  to  urum  fotum  adune  . 

geli'Se-waca  nti  Jjisne  unlitSan  cyle  .  192 

poet  menu  magon  oncnawan  pcet  we  to  pe  clypodon  . 
and  we  beon  gehealdene  for'San  pe  we  hopiaS  to  (5e  . 
Hwset  Sa  fserlice  wearcS  mycel  wundor  Surh  god  . 
baer  com  heofonlic  leoht  to  J^am  halgum  martyrum  .  196 

swa  h4t  swa  sunne  scinende  on  sumere  . 
and  pcet  is  formealt  on  eallum  J)am  mere 
and  pcet  woeter  wear?5  awend  to  wynsumum  baSe 
Ealle  pa,  weard-menn  wseron  eer  geswefude  .  200 

buton  heora  anum  Tpe  Jjyses  ealles  hlyste 
hu  hi  hi  gebsedon  .  and  hu  se  An  forferde  . 
pa  beheold  se  ylca  hwanon  pcet  leoht  scean  . 
tSa  geseah  he  bringan  mid  ]?am  beorhtan  leohte  204 

ufan  of  heofonum  an  leas  feowertig  kyne-helma  . 
]?am  halgum  martyru  .  pe  on  Sam  mere  stodon  . 
pa  under-geat  he  sona  pcet  se  4n  nses  geteald 
to  J3am  cyne-helmum  cristes  j^egna  .  208 

for}5an  pe  he  nolde  ]?a  earfoSnyssa  forberan  . 
Da  awrehte  se  dn  ]?a  o?5re  weardas  . 
and  unscrydde  hine  sylfne  and  scset  into  Sam  mere 
clypigende  .  and  cweSende  .  ic  eom  eac  ^cristen  212 

He  eode  to  Sam  halgum  .  and  clypode  to  Sam  hselende  . 
Ic  gelyfe  on  pe  drihten  swa  swa  ]?as  gelyfaS  . 
Iset  me  beon  geteald  to  heora  getele  . 

and  do  me  ]?3es  wyrSne  pcet  ic  wselhreowe  tintrega  216 

for  pe  f)rowige  .  and  on  Se  beo  afandod  . 

1  Leaf  60. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,   MARTYRS.  S5l 

back  with  the  people  of  Israel  by  many  signs, 

and  didst  open  out  a  way  for  them  in  the  Red  Sea ;  184 

Thou  heardest  also  afterward  Thine  holy  Apostles; 

hear  us  now,  Lord,  in  this  deep  flood, 

and  let  us  not  sink  in  this  cold  tempest, 

neither  let  this  swart  abyss  swallow  us  up.  188 

We  are  miserable  creatures,  help  us  now.  Lord; 

we  are  set  in  the  watery  depths, 

and  our  blood  fleeth  adown  to  our  feet; 

mitigate  now  this  ungentle  chill,  192 

that  men  may  recognise  that  we  have  cried  to  Thee, 

and  that  we  are  preserved  because  we  hope  in  Thee.' 

Lo,  then  suddenly  there  was  a  great  wonder,  through  God's  grace ; 

there  came  a  heavenly  light  to  the  holy  martyrs,  196 

as  hot  as  the  sun  shining  in  summer, 

and  the  ice  melted  away  over  all  the  mere, 

and  the  water  was  turned  to  a  pleasant  bath. 

All  the  warders  had  been  before  cast  into  sleep,  200 

except  one  of  them  who  had  listened  to  all  this, 

how  they  had  prayed,  and  how  the  one  had  died. 

Then  beheld  the  same  [man]  whence  that  light  shone, 

then  saw  he  brought  with  the  bright  light,  204 

down  from  heaven,  one  less  than  forty  crowns 

to  the  holy  martyrs  who  stood  in  the  mere. 

Then  immediately  he  perceived  that  the  one  was  not  accounted 

[worthy] 
of  the  crowns  of  the  servants  of  Christ,  208 

because  he  would  not  endure  the  hardness. 
Then  that  one  aroused  the  other  warders, 
and  unclothed  himself  and  plunged  into  the  mere, 
crying  out  and  saying,  '  I  also  am  a  Christian.'  212 

He  went  to  the  saints,  and  cried  to  the  Saviour, 
*  I  believe  on  Thee,  Lord,  even  as  these  believe, 
let  me  be  numbered  amongst  the  number  of  them, 
and  make  me  worthy  of  this,  that  I  may  suffer  216 

cruel  torments  for  Thee,  and  be  proved  (to  be)  in  Thee.' 


252  XI.   NATALE   QUADRAGINTA   MILITITM. 

pa  geseah  se  deofol  pcet  Tpa,  drihtnes  halgan 
wseron  gefrefrode  on  heora  frecednysse  . 

and  on  geleafan  Jjurh-wunodon  swa  swa  he  se'r  ne  gelyfde  .     220 
Ipcet  hi  sefre  J)one  cyle  swa  gesseliglice  acoman  . 
pa  brsed  se  sceocca  hine  sylfne  to  menn  . 
gewracS  his  sceancan  and  wdnode  him  sylfum  . 
"Wa  is  me  earmum  pcet  ic  eom  ofer-swyjjed  .  224 

fram  jpysum  halgum  werum  .  and  ic  eom  gebysmorod  . 
Hsefde  ic  selteowe  Jjenas  .  nsere  ic  jjus  ea'Selice  oferswic5ed  . 
Nu  ic  wylle  awendan  j^aes  wselhreowan  heortan  . 
to  }?an  ge]?ance  Ipcet  he  ]?yssa  halgena  lie  228 

ealle  forberne  and  on  'Sasre  ea  awurpe  . 
poet  furtSon  heora  bdn  ne  boon  sefre  afundene  . 
pa  sungon  tSa  halgan  on  J^am  softum  ba(5e  . 
Ipu  eart  ana  god  aelmihtig  scyppend  .  232 

J?u  Se  wundra  wyrcst  .  and  ure  wiSer-winnan  ofer-switSst  . 
pu  gescyndest  ]5one  sceoccan  Ipe  embe  us  syrwde  . 
Hwset  ]?a  on  gerne  mergen  comon  Ipa  arleasan  cwelleras  . 
and  axodon  ]>a.  weard-menn  hu-meta  se  an  236 

wsere  to  J^am  halgum  getSeod  .  otSSe  hwset  he  gesawe  . 
pa  cwsedon  ]?a  weardas  to  Sam  wselhreowum  demum  . 
We  feollan  on  slaepe  swarlice  ealle 

swylce  we  on  deacSe  lagon  .  ac  he  Iseg  J)urh-wacol .  240 

geseah  Sa  wundra  and  wrsehte  us  siScSan  . 
pa  gesawe  he  ^  Ipcet  leoht  and  he  gelyfde  sona  . 
unscrydde  hine  eallne  and  eode  into  heom^  . 
and  cwaeS  mid  hluddre  stemne  .  pcet  he  gelyfde  on  crist  .      244 
pa  het  se  arleasa  dema  hi  ealle  gelsedan 
of  tSam  bradum  mere  .  and  tobrecan  heora  sceancan  . 
J)a  ongunnon  Sa  hseSenan  hi  handlinga  ateon  . 
and  to-brgecon  heora  sceancan  .  swd  savA  heom^  beboden  wees  .  248 
pa  sungon  hi  jjisne  sealm  on  j^sere  brsece  . 

Anima  nostra  sicut  passer  erepta  est  de  laqueo  uenantium  .  ^  Et 
cetera  .  [Ipcet  is  on  englisc;*] 

*  MS.  we.  *  MS.  him,  alt.  to  heom.  ^  Leaf  60,  back. 

*  Added  in  a  later  hand. 


XI.    THE    FORTY    SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  253 

Then  saw  the  devil  that  the  Lord's  saints 
were  comforted  in  their  peril, 

and  continued  in  faith  as  he  would  not  before  have  believed         220 
that  they  could  ever  so  happily  have  endured  the  chill. 
Then  the  devil  turned  himself  into  a  man, 
writhed  his  shanks  and  bewailed  himself, 

'  Woe  is  me  miserable,  that  I  am  overcome  2  24 

by  these  holy  men,  and  I  am  put  to  shame ; 
had  I  faithful  servants,  I  should  not  be  thus  easily  overcome; 
now  I  will  turn  the  heart  of  this  persecutor 
to  the  thought,  that  he  shall  burn  up  all  the  bodies  238 

of  these  saints  and  cast  them  into  the  river, 
that  even  their  bones  may  never  be  found.' 
Then  sang  the  saints  in  the  soft  bath, 

'  Thou  only  art  God,  Almighty  Creator,  232 

Thou  that  workest  wonders  and  overcomest  our  adversaries; 
Thou  puttest  to  shame  the  devil  who  laid  snares  for  us.' 
Then  in  the  early  morning  came  the  wicked  torturers, 
and  asked  the  warders  how  the  one  236 

had  become  associated  with  the  saints,  and  what  he  had  seen. 
Then  said  the  warders  to  the  bloodthirsty  judges, 
*  We  all  fell  heavily  asleep 

as  if  we  lay  in  death,  but  he  lay  watching,  240 

saw  the  wonders,  and  roused  us  afterwards  ; 
then  he  saw  the  light,  and  immediately  believed, 
stripped  himself  entirely  and  went  unto  them, 
and  said,  with  a  loud  voice,  that  he  believed  in  Christ.  244 

Then  commanded  the  impious  judge  to  lead  them  all 
out  of  the  broad  mere,  and  to  break  their  legs. 
Then  began  the  heathen  forthwith  to  drag  them 
and  brake  their  legs,  even  as  was  commanded  them.  248 

Then  sung  they  this  psalm  during  the  breaking, 
'  Anima  nostra   sicut  2)asser  erepta    est  de  laqueo   venantium,  et 
cetera.'    That  is  iu  English, 


b 


254  XI.    NATALE    QUADRAGINTA    MILITUM. 

Ure  sawl  is  alired  of  grine  swa  swa  spearwa^  . 
pcet  grin  is  tobryt  .  and  we  synd  alysede  .  25.-2 

Ure  ealra  fultum  is  on  Sses  drihtnes  naman  . 
setJe  geworhte  heofonas  and  eortSan  . 
pa  cwsedon  hi  amen  .  and  heora  gastas  ageafon  . 
and  ferdon  sw^  gemartyrode  to  p&ta  aelmihtigan  drihtne  256 

J7e  him  ser  gefultumode  on  cSam  frecednyssum  . 
and  hi  sefre  getrymde  olppcet  hi  him  tocomon  . 
Da  gedyde  se  dema  swa  swa  se  deofol  gebeotode  . 
het  hi  ealle  forbsernan  on  swi'Se  bradum  fyre  .  260 

ac  J7a  bdn  belifon  aefter  pam.  bsernette  . 
J)a  awurpon  Jja  hse'Senan  into  Sam  widgillum  streame  . 
pis  wearS  geswutelod  sona  sefter  prjm  dagnm 
sumum  halgan  bisceope  on  psere  ylcan  byrig  .  264 

Him  comon  to  on  swsefne  J)a  soSan  godes  halgan  . 
and  ssedon  hwser  heora  bdn  pa  gebrohte  wseron  . 
Hwset  ]?a  se  bisceop  of  his  bedde  ards  . 

and  ferde  mid  his  preostum  to  Sam  flode  nihtes  .  268 

pa  scinon  Sa  bdn  swa  beorhte  swa  steorran 
on  ]7am  wsetere  .  and  hi  Saes  wundrodon  . 
Ealle  hi  becoman  to  anre  dypan  . 

and  nses  forloren  naht  on  pam  flode  .  272 

and  pcet  leoht  geswutelode  swa  hwser  swa  hi  lagon  . 
pa  gebrohte  se  bisceop  ealle  pa,  halgan  bin 
on  gelimplicum  scrynum  .  and  gelogode  hi  up 
on  geleaf-fulre  cyrcan  to  lofe  jjam  aelmihtigan  .  276 

Sam  sy  wuldor  .  and  wurSmynt  on  ealra  worulda  woruld.     Amen. 
Hwset  losaS  sefre  j^am  selmihtigan  gode  . 
Gif  hwylc  ungesselig  mann  his  scyppende  biS  ungehyrsum  . 
and  nele  Jjurh-wunian  on  w^l-dsedum  oS  ende  .  280 

ac  forlset  his  gelsefan  and  ]5one  leofan  drihten  . 
ponne  biS  oSer  gecoren  to  |3am  kyne-helme 
pe  se  oSer  nolde  geearnian  pxirh.  geswinc  . 

swd  swd  ge  gehyrdon  on  J^issere  rsedinge  .  284 

p(et  an  Jjsera  weard-manna  wearS  J^am  halgum  geSeod  . 
•  MS.  spearwe,  alt.  to  spearwa. 


XI.   THE    FORTY    SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  255 

'Our  Boul  is  escaped  out  of  the  snare  as  a  sparrow, 

the  snare  is  broken,  and  we  are  delivered.  252 

The  help  of  us  all  is  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord, 

of  Him  who  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth.' 

Then  said  they  'Amen,'  and  gave  up  their  ghosts, 

and  went  thus  martyred  to  the  Almighty  Lord,  256 

who  had  before  succoured  them  in  perils, 

and  had  ever  strengthened  them  until  they  came  to  Hira. 

Then  did  the  judge  as  the  devil  had  commanded, 

and  bade  burn  theui  all  in  a  very  lai'ge  fire,  260 

but  the  bones  remained  after  the  burning; 

which  the  heathen  then  threw  into  a  wide  stream. 

This  was   straightway  revealed  after  three  days 

to  a  certain  holy  bishop  in  the  same  city.  264 

To  him  came  in  a  dream  the  true  saints  of  God, 

and  said  whither  their  bones  had  been  carried. 

Then  the  bishop  arose  from  his  bed, 

and  went  with  his  priests  to  the  river  by  night.  268 

Then  shone  the  bones  as  brightly  as  stars 

in  the  water,  and  they  wondered  thereat ; 

they  had  all  come  to  [i.  e.  fallen  into]  a  deep  place, 

and  not  one  [bone]  was  lost  in  the  flood ;  273 

and  the  light  revealed  wheresoever  they  lay. 

Then  the  bishop  brought  all  the  holy  bones 

into  a  seemly  shrine,  and  laid  them  up 

in  the  orthodox  Church  to  the  praise  of  the  Almighty,  276 

to  Whom  be  glory  and  worship  to  all  ages  of  ages.     Amen. 

What  is  ever  lost  to  Almighty  God? 

If  any  unhappy  man  be  disobedient  to  his  Creator, 

and  will  not  continue  in  well-doing  unto  the  end,  280 

but  forsaketh  his  faith  and  the  dear  Lord, 

then  shall  another  be  chosen  for  the  crown 

which  the  other  would  not  earn  by  labour, 

even  as  ye  have  heard  in  this  lection  284 

that  one  of  the  warders  became  associated  with  the  saints, 


256  XI.    NATALE    QUADRAGINTA    MILITUM, 

and  gelsehte  Ipone  kyne-helm  j^e  se  otSer  forleas 

ludas  eac  se  arleasa  pe  belaewde  Ipone  hselend  . 

aheng  hine  sylfne  sona  on  grine  .  288 

and  mathias  se  eadmoda  waes  gemsersod  si]?|jan  . 

and  to  apostole  ge^coren  sefter  cristes  seriste  . 

and  hsefS  Jjone  wurSmynt  Ipe  se  wselhreowa  forleas  . 

}?urh  his  agenne  swicdom  JjatSa  he  sealde  his  scyppend  .  292 

Nyte  we  hwejjer  se  weardmann  wsere  sefre  gefullod  . 

ac  we  witon  swa  ]5eah  hwset  wise  lareowas  saedan  . 

pcet  selc  tSsera  pe  biS  acweald  for  cristes  geleafan 

biS  soSlice  gefullod  Iponne  he  swylt  for  gode  .  296 

and  on  his  blode  atJwogen  fram  synna  horwum  . 

and  [leofaS'^]  mid  ]?am  drihtne  pe  he  his  lif  fore  sealde  . 

Nis  gode  nan  need  pcet  we  god  wyrcan  . 

ne  he  nan  j^ing  ne  hset  for  his  agenre  neode  .  300 

ac  hit  fremaS  us  sylfum  swa  hwset  swa  he  us  bebyd  . 

and  we  beo?5  gesselige  gif  we  urum  scyppende  gehersumiatS  . 

and  gif  we  hine  aenne  ofer  ealle  j^incg  lufiaS  . 

seSe  hine  forlset  he  losa(5  witodlice  .  304 

peahhw8e]?ere  gelicaS  ]?am  leofan  drihtne  . 

poet  we  his  willan  mid  weorcum  gefremman  . 

and  purh.  pcet  ge-earnian  poet  ^ce  lif  mid  him  . 

Se  apostol  paulus  sette  on  his  pistole  308 

pcet  we  so?Slice  synd  ures  scyppendes  gefylstan  . 

sw4  pcet  ure  drihten  det5  Jjurh  his  gecorenan 

fela  ]?incg  on  worulde  .  and  fylst  him  aefre  swa  J?eah 

forSan  pe  menn  ne  magon  on  mode  asmeagan  312 

senige  godnysse  buton  hit  of  gode  cume  . 

ne  naht  to  gode  gedon  .  butan  godes  fylste  . 

He  is  swa  mihtig  wyrhta  .  pcet  he  mseg  awendan 

yfel  to  gode  jsurh  his  godnysse  .  316 

Micel  yfelnyss  wses  on  iudeiscum  mannum  . 

JjaJ^a  hi  syrwdon  mid  sweartum  gej^ance 

hu  hi  crist  acwealdon  .  and  pcet  com  us  to  haele  . 

^  Leaf  61. 

^  Added  in  a  late  hand  ;  written  lyfaS,  altered  to  leofaS. 


XI.   THE   FORTY   SOLDIERS,    MARTYRS.  257 

and  received  the  crown  which  the  other  lost. 

Likewise  Judas,  the  impious,  who  betrayed  the  Saviour, 

hung  himself  straightway  in  a  snare ;  288 

and  Matthias  the  humble  was  exalted  afterward, 

and  chosen  as  apostle  after  Christ's  resurrection, 

and  hath  the  worship  which  that  atrocious  man  lost 

through  his  own  treachery,  when  he  sold  his  Creator.  292 

We  know  not  if  the  warder  were  ever  baptized, 

but  we  know,  however,  what  wise  doctors  have  said, 

that  every  one  of  those  who  are  killed  for  the  faith  of  Christ 

is  truly  baptized  when  he  dieth  for  God,  296 

and  is  washed  in  his  own  blood  from  the  stains  of  his  sins, 

and  liveth  with  the  Lord  for  Whom  he  gave  up  his  life; 

God  hath  no  need  that  we  should  do  good  works, 

neither  commandeth  He  anything  for  His  own  need,  300 

but  it  profiteth  ourselves,  whatsoever  He  biddeth  us, 

and  we  are  happy  if  we  obey  our  Creator, 

and  if  we  love  Him  alone  above  all  things. 

He  who  forsaketh  Him,  verily  he  shall  perish ;  304 

nevertheless  it  liketh  our  dear  Lord 

that  we  should  perform  His  will  by  our  works, 

and  thereby  merit  eternal  life  with  Him. 

The  Apostle  Paul  set  down  in  his  Epistle  [i  Cor.  iii.  9]         308 

that  we  are  verily  our  Creator's  helpers, 

so  that  our  Lord  doth,  through  His  chosen  (ones), 

many   things   in   the   world,  and   notwithstanding    ever    helpeth 

them ; 
wherefore  men  may  not  think  in  their  minds  313 

[that  there  is]  any  goodness  except  it  come  from  God, 
nor  [may  they]  do  anything  good  without  God's  help. 
He  is  so  mighty  a  worker  that  He  can  turn 
evil  to  good  through  His  goodness,  316 

Great  evilness  was  there  in  Jewish  men 
when  they  laid  snares,  with  dark  thought, 
how  they  might  kill  Christ;   and  that  turned  to  our  healing 

17 


258  XI.   NATALE   qUADRAGINTA  MILITUM. 

and  to  ecere  alysednysse  and  heom  ^  to  forwyrde  .  320 

Hi  synd  Jjurh-scyldige  for  lieora  syrwunge  . 

and  heom^  bitS  gedemed  be  tSam  pe  hi  dydon  . 

J)eah  ]>e  ure  drihten  J?a  dseda  him  gejjafode  . 

Yfele  wseron  jja  ehteras  and  J>a  arleasan  c  well  eras  324 

J?e  t5a  martyras  ofslogon  .  ac  swa  Jjeah  hit  becom 

6am  halguwi  to  wuldre  and  to  ecum  wyrcSmynte  . 

and  J)a  ehteras  habbatS  ece  gfenySerunge  . 

Naeron  swa  manega  martyras  naere  seo  mycele  ehtnyss  328 

tSe  se  deofol  astyrode  ongean  drihtnes  halgan 

J)urh  his  arleasan  ^  J)enas  .  pe  tSone  hse'Sen-scipe  lufedon  . 

God  ge]5afa?S  swa]?eah  for  his  godnysse 

poet  his  sunne  scyntS  ofer  t5a  synfullan  hsejjenan.  332 

and  asend  his  ren-scuras  ofer  tSa  rihtwisan  menn 

and  ofer  Sa  manfullan  .  for  his  mycclan  cyste  . 

and  afet  us  ealle  ge  yfele  ge  gode  . 

God  gesceop  tSa  h8e]?enan  peah  j^e  hi  hine  ne  cunnon  .  336 

ac  hi  ne  beotS  swa-]3eah  butan  witum  eft  . 

forjsan  \)e  hi  eacSelice  mihton  Jjone  selmihtigan  under-gitan 

tSurh  t5a  gesceafta  .  ]}e  hi  ge-seotS  on  worulde  . 

Heofen  and  eorSe  .  and  ojjre  gesceafta  .  $40 

sunne  .  and  mona  .  msersiacS  heora  scyppend  . 

and  men  magon  tocnawan '  .  pcet  se  is  msere  god 

ana  selmihtig  ]?e  hi  ealle  gesceop  . 

Nu  beotS  Ipa  hse'Senan  buton  beladunge  344 

rihtlice  fordemede  mid  deofle  on  belle  . 

fortSan  pe  hi  ne  oncneowan  crist  mid  geleafan  . 

pe  him  lif  sealde  and  and-lyfene  fore-sceawode  . 

An  gecyndelic  .  se  .  is  eallum  mancynne  gesett  .  348 

pmt  nan  man  ne  gedo  dare  o?5rum  menn  . 

swa  swa  se  hselend  cwsecS  on  his  halgan  godspelle  . 

'poet  poet  Su  pQ  sylfum  nelt  on  Jjinum  life  becuman  . 

ne  do  tSu  poet  oSrum  menn  .  J>is  cwset5  drihten  sylf .  352 

Ac  pdi  hsecSenan  hynatS  and  hergiacS  )?a  cristenan 

^  MS.  him,  alt.  to  heom.  *  Leaf  61,  back.  ^  MS.  tocnawen,  alt. 

to  tocnawan. 


XI.  THE  FORTY  SOLDIERS,  MARTYRS.         259 

and  to  everlasting  deliverance,  and  to  their  destruction;  320 

they  are  very  guilty  for  their  wiles, 

and  to  them  is  adjudged  according  to  that  which  they  did, 

though  our  Lord  permitted  them  [to  do]  the  deeds. 

Evil  were  the  persecutors  and  the  impious  murderers  324 

who  slew  the  martyrs,  but  nevertheless  it  became 

glory  and  everlasting  worship  to  the  saints, 

and  the  persecutors  have  perpetual  abasement. 

There  would  not  have  been  so  many  martyrs  had  there  not 
been  this  great  persecution  328 

which  the  devil  stirred  up,  against  the  Lord's  saints, 

through  his  wicked  servants  who  loved  heathenism. 

God  permitteth  nevertheless,  for  His  goodness, 

that  His  sun  shineth  over  the  sinful  heathen,  33a 

and  He  sends  His  showers  of  rain  both  to  righteous  men 

and  to  the  evil,  for  His  great  bounty, 

and  feedeth  us  all,  both  evil  and  good. 

God  created  the  heathen,  though  they  know  Him  not,  336 

but  nevertheless  they  will  not  be  without  punishment  here- 
after, 

because  they  might  easily  understand  the  Almighty 

by  means  of  the  creatures  which  they  see  in  the  world. 

Heaven  and  earth,  and  other  creatures,  340 

sun  and  moon,  magnify  their  Creator, 

and  men  may  discern  that  He  is  the  great  God 

alone  Almighty,  Who  created  them  all. 

Now  are  the  heathen,  without  excuse,  344 

rightly  condemned  with  the  devil  in  hell, 

because  they  did  not  acknowledge  Christ  by  faith. 

Who  gave  them  life,  and  provided  them  with  sustenance. 

One  natural  law  is  appointed  to  all  mankind,  348 

that  no  man  may  do  harm  to  another  man, 

even  as  the  Saviour  said  in  His  holy  gospel; 

*  That  which  thou  desirest  not  to  befall  thyself  in  thy  life, 

that  do  not  to  another  man.'     This  said  the  Lord  Himself.    352 

But  the  heathen  vex  and  plunder  the  Christians, 

17-2 


260  XII.    IN   CAPUT  JEJUNII. 

and  mid  wselhreowum  dsedum  urne  driliten  gremiatJ . 

ac  hi  liabbacS  pses  edlean  on  Jiam  ecum  witum  . 

God  forgifS  us  mannum  menigfealde  wsestmas  .  356 

Jjsera  we  sculon  brucan  swa  us  gebeorhlic  sy  . 

poet  se  lichama  hsebbe  hlywc5e  and  fodan  . 

\)cet  we  ne  beon  beswicene  )?urb  tSa  swsesan  lustas  . 

pe  of  ofer-flowednysse  ealluwi  Jsani  becumatS  .  360 

pe  buton  wser-scipe  heora  woruld  adreogaS  . 

TJton  we  awendan  ure  willan  to  gode  . 

and  on  eallum  Jjingum  urne  scyppend  wurtSian  . 

se]3e  sefre  rixatS  on  ecnysse.     AMEN.  364 


XII. 

IN    CAPUT  lEIUNII^ 

[The  various  readings  are  from  W.  =  MS.  11.  4.  6  (p.  77)  in  the  Cambridge 
University  Library;  D.  =  MS.  303  in  Corpus  Christi  College  (p.  327)  ;  and  E.= 
MS.  302  in  the  same  (p.  104).] 

pis  spel  gebyratS  seofon  niht  ser  lenctene. 

kN  ©YSSB  WUCAN    ON  WODNES-D^G   SWA   SWA   GE   STLFE   WITON  . 


0 


is  caput  ieiunii  .  poet  is  on  englisc  ,  heafod  lenctenes  fsestenes  . 
We  etatS  on  J)am  sunnan-dagum  on  undern  and  on  sefen  . 
^forcSan  pe  ee  sunnan-dseg  is  swa  halig  4 

pcet  se  man  biS  wyrcSe  t5e  on  ]3am  dsege  fsestan  wile. 
pcet  he  beo  amansumod  gif  he  hit  for  his  anwylnysse  detJ  . 
Ne  eac  man  ne  mot  .  eneowian  on  sunnan-dagum  . 
"We  sculon  swa  peah  aegtSer  ge  on  sunnon-dagum  8 

ge  on  otSrum  dagum  druncennysse  and  oferfylle  forbugan  . 
be  tSam  pe  us  bee  tsecatS  .  and  huru  swyc5ost  on  lencten  . 
Nu  ne  beotS  na  feowertig  daga 

Title.    W.  Feria  iiii.   in  capite  i.  W.D.E.    jjissere.      D.    wodnog. 

IKIUNII.    D.  only  Dominica  in  Quin-  D.  selfe. 

QUAGESiMA.  E.  Lak-Spel.  In  CAPITE  2.  W.E.  lengtencs  ;  D.  lencgtenes. 

IEIUNII                                          .  3-  D.  fan. 

^  This  homily  is  partly  in  prose;    and  even  in  the  alliterative  part,  the 
rhythm  is  hardly  distinguishable,  '^  Leaf  62. 


XII.     ASH-WEDNESDAY.  261 

and  with  cruel  deeds  anger  our  Lord ; 

but  they  shall  have  their  reward  for  this  in  the  eternal  punishments. 

God  giveth  to  us  men  manifold  fruits,  356 

which  we  are  to  enjoy  as  far  as  may  be  safe  for  us, 

that  the  body  may  have  shelter  and  food, 

that  we  may  not  be  ensnared  by  the  pleasant  lusts 

which  come  from  superfluity  to  all  those  360 

who  spend  their  worldly  life  unwarily. 

Let  us  turn  our  will  to  God, 

and  in  all  things  honour  our  Creator 

"Who  ever  ruleth  in  Eternity.     Amen.  364 


XII. 

IN   CAPUT  lEIUNII  (ASH-WEDNESDAY). 


%  This  discourse  belongeth  to  the  seventh  night  before  Lent. 
In  this  week  on  Wednesday,  even  as  ye  yourselves  know, 
is  '  ca2)ut  jejunii,^  that  is  in  English,  Head  of  the  Lenten  Fast. 
We  eat  on  the  Sundays  at  the  third  hour  and  in  the  evening, 
because  the  Sunday  is  so  holy  4 

that  the  man  is  liable,  if  he  will  fast  on  that  day, 
to  be  excommunicated,  if  he  does  so  through  self-will ; 
neither  may  any  one  kneel  on  Sundays. 

Nevertheless,  we  must  both  on  Sundays  8 

and  on  other  days  shun  drunkenness  and  surfeiting, 
according  to  what  books  teach  us,  and  most  especially  in  Lent. 
Now  there  will  not  be  forty  days 

4.  W.E.  for  J)am.  9.  D.  druncennesse;  E.  drucennysse. 

5.  W.D.  mann.     D.  fan.  W.  forbiigan;  D.  forbugen. 

6.  W.  am^nsumod.  10.  D.  be  |)an  '5e.    W.D.  bee.    W. 

7.  E.  mot.  D.E.  taBcea'5.     W.D.E.  lengten. 

8.  W.D.E.  sceolon.  W.D.E.  sunnan.  11.  D.  feowerti. 


262  XII.     IN   CAPUT  JEJUNII. 

on  urum  lenctenlicum  fsestene  gefyllede  .  12 

buton  we  fsesten  Jjaer-foran  to  J^as  feower  dagas  . 

wodues  dseg  .  and  J?unres  dseg  .  and  frige  daeg  .  and  sseternes  daeg  . 

swa  swa  hit  gefyrn  geset  wses  Jjeah  tSe  we  hit  eow  nu  secgan  . 

On  ]3one  wodnes  dseg  wide  geond  eorcSan  .  16 

sacerdas  bletsiacS  swa  swa  hit  geset  is  . 

clsene  axan  on  cyrcan  .  and  J?a  sitStSan  lecgacS 

uppa  {sic)  manna  heafda  .  ])cet  hi  habban  on  gemynde 

pcet  hi  of  eor(San  comon  ,  and  eft  to  duste  gewendatS  .  20 

swa  swa  se  selmihtiga  god  to  adame  cwsetS  . 

si'StSan  he  agylt  hsefde  ongean  godes  bebod  . 

On  geswincum  pu  leofast  and  on  swate  pu  etst 

Jjinne  hMf  on  eortSan  .  o'^lpcet  pu  eft  gewende  34 

to  jjsere  ylcan  eortJan  \>e  \>u  of  come  . 

forSan  Jje  Ipn  eart  dust  .  and  to  duste  gewendst . 

Nis  J?is  na  gessed  be  manna  sawlum  . 

ac  be  manna  lichaman  |?e  for-molsniacS  to  duste  .  28 

and  eft  sceolan  on  domes  dseg  tJurh  ures  drihtnes  mihte 

ealle  of  eortSan  arisan  Jje  sefre  cuce  wseron  . 

swa  swa  ealle  treowa  cuciatS  sefre  on  lenctenes  timan  . 

|?e  ser  jjurh  wyntres  cyle  wurdon  adydde  .  33 

We  rsedatS  on  bocum  segtSer  ge  on  cSsere  ealdan  se  .  ge  on  Jjsere 

niwan  . 
Tpcet  ]?a  menn  J?e  heora  synna  be-hreowsodon  . 
\)cet  hi  mid  axum  hi  sylfe  bestreowodon  . 

and  mid  hseran  hi  gescryddon  to  lice  .  36 

nu  do  we  Ipis  lytle  on  ures  lenctenes  anginne  . 
pcet  we  streowiatS  axan  uppan  ure  heafda 

12.  W.D.E.  lengtenlicum.    D.  fses-  18.  W.  cltene.     W.E.  cyrcean  ;  D. 
tena.  circean.     W.D.  lecgea'S  ;  E.  lecgan. 

13.  E.  butan,  W.D.E.  fseston.     E.  19.  W.D.E.  uppan.       W.E.  t«s.  to 
far  to  foran  ])as.     W.  beforan.  ]>i  bef.  ]>set.   D.  habbon.  W.  gemynde. 

14.  W.  frigedseg.  20.  D.  eor^on.      W.  cdmon.      W. 

15.  W.  gefyrn  gesett.    E.  sett.     D.  gew^nda'S;  D.  gewaendaS. 
nu  eow  secgeon.     W.E.  secgon.  21.  W.  ad^me. 

16.  D.  "Ssene.     W.  wide.  22.  E.  hsefede. 

17.  E.    sacerdos.      W.    swi    awd.  23.  W.D.E. geswinceum ;  W.swjCte. 
W.E.  gesett.     W,  his;  D.E.  is.  W.  est. 


XII.     ASH-WEDNESDAY.  263 

fulfilled  in  our  Lenten  fast,  la 

unless  we  fast  before  that  for  these  four  days, 

Wednesday,  Thursday,  Friday  and  Saturday, 

even  as  it  was  appointed  of  old,  though  we  tell  it  you  but  now. 

On  the  Wednesday,  throughout  the  whole  world,  i6 

the  priests  bless,  even  as  it  is  appointed, 

clean  ashes  in  church,  and  afterward  lay  them 

upon  men's  heads,  that  they  may  have  in  mind 

that  they  came  from  earth,  and  shall  again  return  to  dust,     20 

even  as  the  Almighty  God  spake  to  Adam, 

after  he  had  sinned  against  God's  command ; 

'In  toil  thou  shalt  live,  and  in  sweat  thou  shalt  eat 

thy  loaf  on  earth,  until  thou  return  again  24 

to  the  same  earth  from  which  thou  earnest, 

because  thou  art  dust,  and  shalt  to  dust  return.' 

This  is  not  said  of  men's  souls, 

but  of  men's  bodies  that  moulder  to  dust,  28 

and  afterwards  shall  at  doomsday,  through  our  Lord's  might, 

all  arise  from  the  earth,  that  were  ever  alive, 

like  as  all  trees  are  always  quickened  in  the  Lenten  time, 

which  before  had  been  deadened  by  the  winter's  chill.  33 

We  read  in  the  books,  both  in  the  old  Law  and  in  the  new, 

that  the  men  who  repented  of  their  sins 

bestrewed  themselves  with  ashes, 

and  clothed  their  bodies  with  sackcloth.  36 

Now  let  us  do  this  little  in  the  beginning  of  our  Lent, 

that  we  strew  ashes  upon  our  heads, 

24.  E.  hlaf.     W.  gew^nde ;  D.  ge-  32.  W.D.  eer.     D.  cele. 

wffinde.  33-  D.  rae'deS.   W.  bdcum.   W.D.E. 

25.  W.  c6me.  niwan. 

26.  W-E.  for  fam.     W.  gewenst ;  34.  E.  men.      W.  hyra.       D.  be- 
E.  gewentst.  hreosodon,  cor.  to  behreowsodon. 

27.  W,  gesa;d.  35.  W.D.E.  hi  (for  hi). 

28.  W.  dTiste.  36.  W.  ha>ran;  D.hsere.   "W.D.  lice. 

29.  W.D.E.  sceolon.  37.  W.  dd.  D.E.we.  W.  lengctenes ; 

30.  D.  arisan.  D.  lengtenes. 

31.  W.E.  lengtenes ;  D.  laengtenes.  38.  W.  strewia'S. 
W.D.  tlman. 


264  XII.     IN    CAPUT   JEJUNII. 

to  geswutelunge  pmt  we  sculon  ure  synna 

behreowsian  .  on  ure  lencten-licum  faestene  .  40 

Sum  unge-rad  mann  waes  mid  aelfstane  bisceope 

on  wiltun-scire  on  hirede  .  se  man  ^  nolde  gan 

to  Sam  axum  on  )5one  wbdnes  dseg  .  swa  swa  ocSre  men  dydon 

\)e  pa,  msessan  ge-sohton  .  pa  bsedon  his  geferan  44 

Tpcet  he  code  to  ]5am  msesse-preoste  . 

and  under-fencge  f)a  gerynu  pe  hi  under-fengon  . 

He  cwse'S  ic  nelle  .  Hi  bsedon  |?a-git  . 

he  cwseS  poet  he  nolde  .  and  wealode  mid  wordum  .  48 

and  saede  pcet  he  wolde  his  wifes  brucan 

on  Jjam  unalyfedum  timan  .  Hi  leton  pa  swa  . 

and  hit  gelamp  pcet    se  gedwola  rdd  on  tSsere  wucan  ymbe  sum 

serende  . 
]?a  gestodon  hine  hundas  hetelice  swySe  .  52 

and  he  hine  werode  oppcet  his  sceaft 
setstod  setforan  him  .  and  pcet  hors  hine  bser  fortS  . 
swa  pcet  pcet  spere  him  code  })urh  ut  .  and  he  feoll  cwelende  . 
He  wearcS  (5a  bebyrged  .  and  him  Iseg  on-uppan  56 

fela  byrtSena  eorSan  binnon  seofon  nihton  . 
J?ses  ?Se  h6  forsoc  pa  feawa  axan  . 

On  Jjsere  ylcau  wucan  com  sum  tru'S  to  ]?ses  bisceopes  hirede  . 
Be  ne  gymde  nanes  lenctenes  fgestenes  .  ac  eode  him  to  kicenan  .   60 
J)a  hwile  (Se  se  bisceop  msessode  and  began  to  etenne  . 
he  feoll  ]5a  set  (Ssere  forman  snsede 
under-becc  geswogen  .  and  spaw  blod  . 

ac  him  gebyrede  swa  cSeah  pcet  feorh  earfo'Slice  .  64 

Us  ssede  eac  oft  a]?elwold  se  halga  bisceop 


39.  W.D.E.  sceolon.  46.  W.D.  underfenge  ;   E.   under- 

40.  W.D.E.  urum  lengtenlicum.  funge.     E.  undefungon,  cor.  to  under- 

41.  E.  sume.     "W.D.  ungeriCd.     D.  fungon. 

selfstana.  47.  W.  ))a  gyt;  D.  '5a  get. 

42.  W.D.E.  mann.     W.  giCn.  48.  W.  w^^ode ;  D.  wealede.      D. 

43.  E.  })an  axan.      W.D.  wodnes-  weordu?)i,  cor.  to  wordum. 
dseg.     W.D.E.  menn.  49.  W.  saede.     W.  wlfes. 

44.  D,  gesdhtan.     W.  bsedon.     W.  50.  W.    tiualefedum.      W.   tlman. 
geferan ;  D.  geferon.  W.  leton.     D.  ])ii  sw^  ;  E.  swa  pa.. 

45.  D.  maesse-preste.  51.  W.  geUmp.      D.B.   rad.      E. 

^  Leaf  62,  back.     ■ 


XII.     ASH-WEDNESDAY.  265 

to  signify  tliat  we  ought  to  rejient 

of  our  sins  during  our  Lenten  fast.  40 

There  was  a  certain  foolish  man  with  bishop  zElfstan 

in  Wiltshire,  in  his  household  :  this  man  would  not  go 

to  the  ashes  on  the  Wednesday,  as  other  men  did, 

who  attended  at  mass  ;   then  his  companions  begged  44 

that  he  would  go  to  the  mass-priest, 

and  receive  the  sacred  mysteries  which  they  had  received. 

He  said,  'I  will  not.'     They  still  prayed  him. 

He  said  that  he  would  not,  and  spake  strangely  in  his  talk,  48 

and  said  that  he  would  use  his  wife 

at  the  forbidden  time.     Then  they  left  him  so. 

It  befell  that  the  heretic  was  riding  in  that  week  about  some  errand, 

when  hounds  attacked  him  very  fiercely,  5  a 

and  he  defended  himself  until  his  spear-shaft 

stood  up  before  him,  and  the  horse  carried  him  forward 

so  that  the  spear  went  right  through  him,  and  he  fell  dying. 

He  was  then  buried,  and  there  lay  upon  him  56 

many  loads  of  earth  within  seven  nights, 

because  he  had  refused  those  few  ashes. 

In   that    same   week   came   a    certain    buffoon    to    the    bishop's 

household, 
who  heeded  no  Lenten  fast,  but  went  to  the  kitchen,  .  60 

while  the  bishop  was  saying  mass,  and  began  to  eat ; 
then  fell  he,  at  the  first  morsel, 
backward  in  a  swoon,  and  spat  blood, 

but  his  life,  nevertheless,  was  with  difficulty  preserved.  64 

Likewise  Athelwold,  the  holy  bishop, 

uccan.     E.  sume.  60.  D.  gymde.      W.D.  lengtenes ; 

52.  W.  gestddon.     W.  hdndas.  E.  lengtennes.     D.  dode. 

53.  I),  se  {for  his).     W.D.E.  sceft,  61.  W.D.E.    hwile,      W.D.E.   be- 

54.  W.D.  setatdd.    D.  setfoieu.    E.  gann.     D.  him  to.     W.  etene, 
fotS  (sic).  62.  W.  sniede ;  E.  snede. 

55.  W.  dt.  63.  W.  underbajc  ;  D.E.  underbseo, 

56.  D.  bebyried.     D.  on  uppon.  W.  spjCw.     W.D.  bldd. 

57.  E.  feala.     W.D.E.  nihtu/w.  64.  W.D.E.   gebyrode.      D.   ear'S- 

58.  E.  J)3es  he  forsoc.     W.D.  he.  foSlice  Jjce<  feorh. 

59.  W.  cdm,     £.  trdS.  65.  D,  sade.     W.  edc ;  D.  ^ac. 


266  XII.     IN    CAPUT   JEJUNII. 

J?e  nu  wyrct5  wundra  t5urh  god  . 

pcet  he  cmSe  anne  mann  mid  selfege  bisceope  . 

se  wolde  drincan  on  lenctene  ]5onne  hine  lyste  .  68 

pa  sume  dseg  bsed  he  Ipone  bisceop  selfeh  . 

blsetsian  his  ful  .  he  nolde  .  and  se  dysiga  dranc 

butan  bletsunge  and  eode  him  ut  . 

Man  slsette  J)a  senne  fearr  feringa  J)8er-ute  .  72 

and  se  fear  arn  him  togeanes  ,  and  hine  t5yde  Tpcet  he  his  feorh 

forl^t  . 
and  gebohte  swa  (Sone  untiman  drenc  . 

^Ic  Jjsera  manna  pe  yt  otStSe  drinctS  75 

on  untiman  on  para  halgan  lenctene  .  oScSe  on  rihtfsesten-dagum  . 
wite  h6  to  soSan  pcet  his  sawl  sceal  sarlice  hit  gebicgan  . 
?Seah  pe  se  lichama  her  lybbe  gesund  . 
We  sceolan  gewilnian  symle  }?0es  ecean  lifes  . 
for})an  pe  on  para  life  syndon  gode  dagas  .  80 

na  swa  J^eah  manega  dagas  ac  ^  an  .  se  ne  geendaS  nasfre  . 
peah  pe  hwa  wille  h6r  on  life  habban  gode  dagas  . 
he  ne  mseg  hi  h^r  findan  j^eah  pe  h6  sy  welig 
forSan  J^e  he  bitJ  ojjj^e  untruwi  .  otStJe  hohfull  .  84 

ojjjje  hia  frynd  him  aet-fealla^  .  otSS  his  feoh  him  aet-byrst. 
o'S'Se  sum  otSer  ungelimp  on  J?ysum  life  him  becymtS  . 
and  })ger-to-ecean  he  him  ondrset  his  deat5es  symble  . 
Ne  bits  nan  Jjyssera  yfela  on  Jsam  ecan  life  .  88 

ac  bicS  se  dn  goda  dseg  raid  gode  sylfum  . 
butan  sorge  and  sare  .  and  ealra  geswencednyssa  . 
and  un-ge-endod  blis  betwux  eallum  halgum  . 

66.  W.  n±  E.  far-ute. 

67.  W.D.  aenne.     D.  mannn.  W.D.  73.  W.D.E.  fearr.      W.  ^m.     W. 
self hege  ;  E.  aelfhehe.  ])yde  ;  D.E.  fydde.     D.E.  forlet. 

68.  W.  lengtene ;  D.  laencgtene  ;  E.  74.  D.   sw^.      W.   untiman.      W. 
lengtenne.     D.  him.  drsenc  ;  D.  drsenc. 

69.  W.E.  selfheh.  75.  D.  hit,  cor.  to  et. 

70.  W.D.E.  bletsian.     W.D.E.  full.  76.  W.  untiman.  D.«an.  D.lencg- 
E.  and  he.     W.E.  dysega  ;  D.  dysige.  tene,   W.  rihtfsesten  dagum. 

W.D.  drdnc.  77.  E.  wite.  W.D.E.  he.  E.  is  (/or 

71.  D.  hi»w  eode,    E.  eod  him  ut.  his).  W.D.E.  sawul.  W.  sarlice.  W.E. 

72.  W.  slsette.       E.  anne.      D.E.       gebicgean ;  D.  gebycgean. 

faeringa ;  W.  fEeringa.      W.  Jtaerdte ;  78.  E.  jsaeah.   W.  her.  W.  gesund. 

*  Leaf  63. 


XII.  ASH-WEDNESDAY.  267 

who  now  worketh  miracles  through  God,  often  told  us, 

that  he  knew  a  man  with  bishop  ^Ifheah, 

who  would  drink  in  Lent  whenever  it  pleased  him.  68 

Then  one  day  he  prayed  the  bishop  iElfheah 

to  bless  his  cup ;    he  would  not,  and  the  fool  drank 

without  blessing,  and  went  out. 

They  were  baiting  a  boar  by  chance  outside,  73 

and  the  boar  ran  against  him  and  thrust  him  so  that   he  gave 

up  his  life ; 
and  so  paid  for  the  untimely  draught. 
Every  man  who  eateth  or  drinketh 

untimely  in  the  holy  Lent,  or  on  appointed  fast-days,  76 

let  him  know  in  sooth  that  his  soul  shall  sorely  abye  it, 
though  the  body  may  here  live  sound. 
We  should  ever  desire  the  eternal  life, 

because  in  that  life  there  are  good  days ;  80 

not  however  many  days,  but  one  which  endeth  never. 
Nevertheless  whoso  will  here  in  life  have  good  days, 
he  can  not  find  them  here,  though  he  be  wealthy, 
for  that  he  will  be  either  sick  or  full  of  care,  84 

or  his  friends  will  fall  away  from  him,  or  his  wealth  will  escape 

from  him, 
or  some  other  mischance  in  this  life  will  come  to  him, 
and  in  addition  thereto  he  will  ever  dread  his  death. 
There  will  be  none  of  these  evils  in  the  eternal  life,  88 

but  there  shall  be  the  one  good  day  with  God  Himself, 
without  care  and  sorrow  and  all  tribulations, 
and  unended  bliss  amongst  all  saints. 

79.  W.D.E.  sceolon.     D.  ecan.  W.  86.  W,  ungelfmp. 

Iffes.  87.  E.  J)arto.     "W.D.E.  eacan.    W. 

80.  W.E.  forjjam.     W.D.  gdde.  ondret.     W.D.E.  dea«  symle. 

81.  W.iiii.     W.  enda«.  88.  W.  n.^n.   W.E.  ])ysra.    D.  ))an. 

82.  W.  hw£.     D.E.  her.    D.E.  life.  W.D.E.  ecean.    W.  life. 

W.D.E.  gode.     W.  dilgas.  89.  D.  beo5.       E.  an.      D.  goda. 

83.  D.E.  her.   W.  flndan.    D.  >eah       D.  dabg.     D.  selfum. 

he.   W.  he  si;  E.  he  si.   W.D.E.  weli.  90,  W.D.  buton.     E.  sorhge.     W. 

84.  W.   for])ain  -Se.     D.  beoS  un-  sare.      W.D.E.  eallum ;       W.E.   ge- 
tiuma.  swencednyssum.       D.  geswsencednes- 

85.  D.  freond.       D.E.  oS«e.      D.  sum. 

aetberst.  91.  W.D.E.  bliss. 


268  XII.    IN   CAPUT  JEJUNII. 

Wei  mseg  ge-hwd,  witan  pcet  gif  ahwser  is  myrc'S  and  wuldor  .   92 
\)(St  Ipddr  is  unasecgendlic  wuldor  Jjger   se  wunatS   pe   ealle  tJincg 

gesceop  . 
and  god  sylf  hgeft5  gehaten  eallum  j^am  ISe  hine  lufiatS  . 
])cet  hi  moten  wunian  on  Sam  ylcan  wuldre 
mid  him  sylfum  a  butan  ende  .  96 

Wite  nu  ])cet  god  ne  lihtS  ngefre  . 
and  warna  Ipcet  Ipu  him  ne  leoge  .  gif  pn  him  lihst 
ne  bepsecst  Ipn  na  hine  .  ac  ]?e  sylfne  swyj^e  wratSe  . 
Mcenig  welig  man  is  on  tSyssere  worulde  100 

Jje  wolde  mycelne  scat  .  and  ungerim  feos  syllan 
wits  Jjam   gif  he   hit  gebicgan  mihte  .  ]}cet  he  her  for  worulde 

lybban  moste 
butan  eallum  geswyncum  sefre  unge-endod  . 
and  him  ealle  Jjincg  gelumpon  swa  swa  him  sylfum  gelicode  .     104 
and  he  wsere  orsorh  gefre  selces  yfeles  . 

Deah  Ipe  hit  swa  beon  mihte  Ipcet  he  j^as  blisse  begitan  mihte 
Ipe  ic  nu  fore-ssede  .  usere  hit  swa  tSeah  \)e  geliccre  jjsere  ecean 

myrhtSe  . 
Jjonne  bitS  ]7am  menn  )?e  sit  on  cwearterne  .  108 

wiS  J?am  menn  pe  fsertS  frig  geond  land  . 
Nu  se  rica  mann  ne  mseg  her  habban  pe  m4 
pe  ure  senig  J^a  orsorgan  and  pa  unateorigendlican  blysse  . 
hwi  nele  he  ]3onne  oSSe  we  gebycgan  112 

on  |?ysum  earmum  life  pa  ecean  myrh'Se 
mid  godum  geearnungum  and  selmys-daedum  . 
Git  we  magan  secgan  sume  bysne  be  Jjysum  . 
Gif  man  Iset  nu  senne  j^eof  to  siege  .  116 

92.  D.  maeg.     E.  gehwa.     W.D.E.  97.  W.  nii. 
myrh'S.  98.  D.  geof  {for  gif), 

93.  W.   tinasecgendlic.         E.  ]>&t.  99.  W.  bepajcst.  W.  n^.   D.  selfne. 
W.D.E.  J>iiig.     W.  gesceop ;   D.  ge-  W.  wrdSe. 

worhte.  loo.  W.  Menig;    D.    Meni.       D. 

94.  W.  An  god.    D.  self.    D.  sefS,  weli.     W.D.E.  mann.    W.E.  fysre. 
cor.  to  hieft?.     W.  gehaten.  loi.  W.  sc^t.     W.E.  am,  and  un- 

95.  W.  mdton  ;  D.E.  moton.       D.  gerim  feos.     D.  ungerim  f^os  sellan. 
^an  ilcan  wuldran.  102.  D.  wiS  'San.  W.E.  gebicgean ; 

96.  D.  selfum.  W.D.  d.  W.D.  buton.  D.  gebycgean.    D.  om.  h6r.    E.  her. 


XII.    ASH-WEDNESDAY.  269 

Truly  may  everyone  know  that  if  there  is  mirth  and  glory 
anywhere,  92 

that  there  is  unspeakable  glory  where  He  dwelleth,  who  created 
all  things; 

and  God  Himself  hath  promised  to  all  them  that  love  Him 

that  they  shall  dwell  in  the  eternal  glory 

with  Himself,  for  ever,  without  end.  96 

Know  now,  that  God  never  lieth, 

and  beware  that  thou  never  lie  to  Him  ;    if  thou  lie  to  Him, 

thou  canst  not  deceive  Him,  but  [deceivest]  thyself  most  direly. 

There  is  many  a  wealthy  man  in  this  world  100 

who  would  give  much  treasure  and  unnumbered  riches 

provided  that — if  he  might  purchase  it — he  might  here  live  for 
[this]  world, 

without  all  toil,  ever  endlessly,  103 

and  that  everything  might  befall  him  as  it  should  please  himself, 

and  that  he  might  always  be  careless  of  any  evil. 

Even  if  it  might  be  so,  that  he  might  obtain  these  joys 

of  which  I  spake  before  just  now,  it  would  yet  not  be  more 
■  like  the  eternal  mirth, 

than  it  fares  with  the  man  who  sitteth  in  prison  108 

as  compared  with  the  man  who  goeth  free  through  the  land. 

Now  the  rich  man  cannot  here  have,  any  more 

than  any  of  us,  that  sorrowless  and  that  untiring  bliss ; 

why  then  will  not  he,  or  we  ourselves,  purchase,  112 

in  this  miserable  life,  the  eternal  joy 

with  good  merits,  and  with  almsdeeds  1 

Yet  we  can  tell  you  a  parable  concerning  this. 

If  a  thief  were  now  being  led  to  be  put  to  death  116 

E.  on  womlde.  E.  om.  J)ain  menn  to  end  of  line. 

103.  W.E.  geswinceum;  D.  geswin-  110.  W.D.  rfca.  W.  Wr.  D.E.  ma. 
ceom.     D.  tingeendod.  1 11.  D.aeni.  W.Eun-ateoriendlican; 

104.  W.  ])ing;    D.E.  J)inc.     D.  ge-  D.  unateoriendlican. 

limpon  ;  E.  gelumpe.     W.  gellcode.  112.  W.  hwl.     W.D.E.  gebicgean. 

106.  D.  Won.     D.  begetan.  113.  W.D.E.  earman.     W.  life. 

107.  W.   nti   fore-saede.       W.D.E.  114.  W.E.  gddum.  D.  aelmesdaeduTn-. 
gelicre.  115.  W.  Git.  W.E.magon.  W.D.E. 

108.  W.D.E.  sitt.  secgean.     E.  bysene. 

109.  W.  frl;    D.  fri.    W.D.  Mnd.  116.  W.E,  laet.     W.  nii.     W.])6ol 


270  XII.     IN    CAPUT   JEJUNII. 

hu  wenst  tSu  .  iiolde  he  syllan  ealle  his  sehta 
J)eah  J)e  ^he  welig  wsere  .  witS  pan  pe  he  libban  moste 
gif  man  him  pg&s  geSafian  wolde  .  He  ne  mihte  swa-]7eah 
aefre  libbaa  .  J^eah  tSe  he  hine  ]>&  ut  alysde  .  120 

ac  he  haefde  fyrst  ane  feawa  geara  . 
Bi(5  nu  micel  rsed  .  J^am  pe  his  sylfes  roc's  . 
pcet  he  him  gebycge  pcet  ece  lif  pe  we  embe  sprsecatS . 
Nu  Jjencst  tSu  and  cwiSst  .  hu  mseg  ic  pcet  ece  lif  gebycgan  ?  124 
Ic  Se  secge  .  sele  pe  sylfne  gode  . 
swa  pcet  J?u  lufige  pa,  tSingc  j^e  god  lufatS  . 
and  J?a  tSincg  onscunie  pe  god  onscunatS  . 

God  ascunatS  leasunga  .  and  lufatS  soSfsestnysse  .  128 

JSTe  beo  J3U  na  leas-breda  o)7)5e  swicol  . 
ac  beo  sotSfsest  and  symle  getrywe  . 

forcSan  pe  se  trywleasa  ne  biS  nanu»n  hlaforde  to  hsebbenne  . 
ne  eac  ^tSses  untreowan  god^  ne  recc5  .        .  132 

Hit  bits  swiSe  langsum  pcet  we  ealle  godes  beboda 
her  nu  eow  gereccan  .  ac  dotS  an  tSincg  . 
cepe  gehwd  poet  he  his  lif  on  unnyt  ne  aspende  . 
ac  leornige  godes  beboda  set  wisum  lareowum  136 

and  )?a  healde  swa  he  selost  maege  , 

Gif  he  hwset  to-brece  ongean  godes  willan  bete  pcet  georne  . 
|?onne  bitS  he  godes  mann  and  god  him  syltS  tomedes 
pcet  ece  lif  .  pe  we  ser  embe  sprsecon.  140 

Nu  bits  selc  mann  gefullod  on  naman  ]38ere  halgan  J^rynnysse  . 
and  he  ne  mot  na  beon  eft  gefullod  .  pcet  ne  sy  forsewen  jjsere 
halgan  t5rynnysse  to-clypung  .  ac  seo  soSe  behreowsung  and  dsedbot 

117.  W.  w^nst.  D.  sellan.  W.Eehta.       W.  ^ce.    D.E.  lif.   W.D.E.gebicgean. 

118.  W.E.  })eahhe.  W.w^li;  D.E.  125.  W.E.  syle.     D.  selfne, 
well.   W.E.  wis  J)am  Se.  126.  W.E.  lufie.     W.D.E.  ping. 

120.  W.D.E.  Jjeah  he.     W.  pd  lit.  127.  W.D.E.  Jjing. 

W.  alysde;  D.  alesde.  128.  D.  on-scuna'S.     W.D.E.  leas- 

121.  D.  feawe  geare.  unge.  D.E.  soSfsestnesse. 

122.  D.rsetS  (sic);  E.  rsed.    E.  Jam  129.  W.  l^as-br^da,     E.  swica. 
men  ]>e.    D.  selfes.  131.  W.D.  for  pa,m  Se.     W.  tryw- 

123.  W.  ^ce.      D.E.  lif.      W.D.E.  leasa ;  D.  treowleasa.     D.  beo5. 
sprecaS.  132.  W.  e^c.     W.D.E.  se  so^faBsta 

124.  W.cwycst;  D.cwest;  E.  cwyst.  god  his  {for  'Saes  .  .  .  god).    W.  recS. 

'  Leaf  63,  back.  '''^  Written  over  an  erasure. 


XII.    ASH-WEDNESDAY.  271 

how  thinkest  thou  ?  would  he  not  give  all  his  goods, 
though  he  were  wealthy,  provided  that  he  might  live, 
if  they  would  permit  him  this  1    Nevertheless,  he  could  not 
live  for  ever,  though  they  then  released  him,  lao 

but  he  would  only  have  a  few  years'  delay. 
It  is  then  a  great  consideration  to  him  who  careth  for  himself, 
to  purchase  for  himself  that  eternal  life,  of  which  we  speak. 
Now   thinkest    thou,   and    sayest,    '  How   may   I    purchase    the 
etern.l  lifeT  124 

I  say  to  thee,  give  thyself  to  God, 
so  that  thou  mayest  love  the  things  which  God  loveth, 
and  detest  those  things  which  God  detesteth. 
God  abhorreth  lies,  and  loveth  truth.  laS 

Be  thou  no  liar,  neither  treacherous, 
but  be  true  and  ever  faithful; 

because  the  faithless  are  [good]  for  no  lord  to  have, 
nor  likewise  does  God  care  for  the  unfaithful.  13a 

It  would  be  very  tedious  for  us  here  now  to  tell  you 
all  God's  commands,  but  do  ye  one  thing: 
let  each  one  take  heed  that  he  spend  not  his  life  uselessly, 
but  let  him  learn  God's  commands  from  wise  teachers,  136 

and  keep  the  same  as  he  best  may. 
If  he  in  any  wise  sin  against  God's  will,  let  him  make  amends 

.   for  it  earnestly, 
then  shall  he  be  God's  man,  and  God  shall  give  him  for  his  reward 
that  eternal  life,  concerning  which  we  before  spake.  140 

Now  every  man  is  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  and 
he  may  not  be  again  baptized,  that  the  invocation  of  the  Holy 
Trinity  be  not  contemned ;  but  true  contrition,  and  penance  with 

133.  D.  beo«,    W.  lansum.  139.  D.  bee's.      D.   sel}).      W.   to 

1 34.  W.  h^r  nii.     W.E.  gerecceon ;       m^des. 

D.  gereceon,  cor.  to  gerecceon.     W.  140.  E.  lit    W.  a;r  ymbe  sprajcon. 

&1X.    W.D.E.  ])ing.  141.  D.  beoS.     D.E.  man.     D.  ge- 

135.  W.E.  kepe;  D.  kepe.      D.E.       fyllod,  cor.  (0  gefuUod. 

gehwa.    W.  llf.     W.D.  unnytt.     W.  142.  W.  mdt.     D.  gefyUod,  cor.  to 

asptSnde.  gefuUod.     W,  si ;  D.  si. 

136.  W.D.E.  leornie.  W.  Ureo-  143.  D.  Jrynnesse.  W.  toclypung. 
■wum.  D.behreowsunge.  W.  daetbot;  D,  daed- 

137.  W.E.  mage.  bote. 

138.  W.  ongean.     W.  b^te. 


272  XII.     IN    CAPUT    JEJUNIl. 

mid  geswicennyssuw  yfeles  us  apwyh!<S  eft  fram  his  synnum  .  pe  we  144 
sefter  urum  fulluhte  gefremedon .  Se  mild-heorta  god  cwsetS  be  eallum 
synfullum  mannum  twa  word  swi(Se  fremfulle  .  Declina  a  malo  et 
fac  bonum  .  pcet  is  buh  fram  yfele  .  and  do  god  .  Nis  genoh  Ipc^t  p\x 
fram  yfele  buge  .  butan  pu  symle  be  })im'e  mgeSe  god  gefrerame  .  148 
Dsedbot  mid  geswicennysse  yfeles  .  and  selmys-dseda  .  and  halige 
gebedu  .  and  geleafa  .  and  hiht  on  gode  .  and  seo  so'Se  lufu  godes 
and  manna  .  gehgelatS  and  gelacniaS  ure  synna  .  gif  we  ]?a  lisece-domas 
geornlice  begacS  .  God  cwsetS  pcet  he  nolde  J^ges  synfuUan  ^deaS  .  ac  152 
he  wile  swyt5or  pcet  he  gecyrre  fram  his  synnum  and  libbe  .  Eft 
cwseS  se  selmihtiga  god  .  Gif  se  arleasa  and  se  synfulla  wyrc(5  dsed- 
bote  ealra  his  synna  .  and  hylt  mine  beboda  .  and  rihtwysnysse 
begse'S  .  he  lifaS  and  ne  swylt  na  yfelum  deaSe  .  and  ic  ne  gemune  156 
nanre  his  synna  pe  he  gefremode  .  Nis  nan  leahter  swa  healic  pcet 
man  ne  mseg   gebetan  .  gif  he  yfeles  geswycS   .  and  mid  so(5re 
behreowsunge  his  gyltas  .  be  lareowa^  tsecinge  behreowsaS  .  Se 
man  pe  wile  his  synna  bewepan  .  and  wiS  god  gebetan  Jjonne  mot  160 
he  geornlice  warnian  .  pcet  he  seft  ]3am  yfelum  dsedum  ne  ge-edlsece . 
Se  man  pe  sefter  his  dsed-bote  his  manfullan  dseda  ge-edniwat5  .  se 
gegrematS  god  .  swa  pcet  he  bicS  ]3am  hunde  gelic  pe  spywS  and  eft  ytt 
poet  poet  he  ser  aspaw  .  Ne  nan  man  ne  sceal  elcian  pcet  he  his  synna  164 
gebete  .  for^an  pe  god  behet  selcum  behreowsigenduwi  his  synna 
forgifnysse  .  ac  he  ne  behet  nanum  elciendum  ge-wis  lif  o]?  mergen  . 
Ne  sceamige  nanum  menn  pcet  he  anum  lareowe  his  gyltas  cytSe'  . 
for'San  pe  se  pe  nele  his  synna  on  tSissere  worulde  andettan  mid  sotSre  168 
behreowsunge. him  sceal  sceamian  setforan  gode  selmihtigum  .  and  set- 

144.  D.  geswicennessum.      W.   lis.  152.  D.  ?ns.  mannes  o/i!er  synfullan. 
W.D.E.  urum  (/or  his).     E.  wee.  153.  W.  cyrre;  D.  gecyrron. 

145.  E.  sefte  (sjc).  154.  D.  Arleasa.     W.  (tedb<5te;  D. 

146.  W.  tw^  w<5rd.    D.  fremfuUice.  daedbota. 

147.  "W.  btih.     E.  do.     D.E.   god.  if,e,.  D.  his  above  the  line.    W.D.E. 
W.D.E.  nis  na.  W.D.  gendh.  W.  0u  ;  healt.     D.  rihtwisnesse. 

D.  K  156.  W.D.E.  leofa'S.     W.  n4,    D. 

148.  W.btige.  W.D.E.buton.  E.god.  dae«a. 

149.  W.Dsetbdt;  D.E.  D8edb(5t.  D.  157.  W.  n^nra;    D.E.  nanra.     W. 
geswicennesse.  D.E.  selmes-dseda.  W.  healic. 

halie.  158.  W.D.E.  mage.  W.D.  gebetan. 

151.  W.  gehaelaS;  D.  gehsele^.  W.  159.  D.  behreosunge.    W.  tsecinge  ; 

D,  Isecedomes.  E.  taecincge. 

^  Leaf  64.  ^  Over  an  erasure.  ^  The  e  is  over  an  erasure. 


XII.    ASH- WEDNESDAY.  273 

abstaining  from  evil,  washeth  us  again  from  the  sins  which  we  have 
committed  after  our  baptism.  The  merciful  God  spealceth,  con- 
cerning all  sinful  men,  two  very  profitable  words,  'Declina  a  malo 
et  fac  honum'  that  is,  *  Turn  from  evil,  and  do  good.'  It  is  not 
enough  that  thou  turn  from  evil,  unless  thou  ever,  according  to  thy 
measure,  do  good.  Penance,  with  abstaining  from  evil,  and  alms- 
deeds,  and  holy  prayers,  and  faith,  and  hope  in  God,  and  the  true 
love  of  God  and  men,  heal  and  cure  our  sins,  if  we  diligently  use 
those  medicines,  God  said  that  He  desired  not  the  death  of  the 
sinful,  but  He  willeth  rather  that  he  should  turn  from  his  sins 
and  live. 

Again  saith  the  Almighty  God,  '  If  the  wicked  man,  and  the 
sinful  do  penance  for  all  his  sins,  and  keep  my  commandments,  and 
follow  after  righteousness,  he  shall  live,  and  shall  not  die  an  evil 
death,  and  I  will  not  remember  any  of  his  sins  which  he  hath  com- 
mitted.' There  is  no  sin  so  great  that  a  man  may  not  atone  for  it  if 
he  cease  from  evil,  and  with  true  contrition  repent  of  his  guilt,  ac- 
cording to  the  teaching  of  the  doctors.  The  man  who  desires  to  weep 
for  his  sins,  and  make  satisfaction  for  them  with  good,  then  must  he 
diligently  beware  that  he  repeat  not  afterward  the  evil  deeds.  The 
man  who  after  his  penance  reneweth  his  evil  deeds,  he  so  angereth 
God,  that  he  is  like  the  dog  who  spueth,  and  again  eateth  that 
which  he  before  spued  up.  Nor  must  any  man  delay  to  amend  his 
sins,  for  God  hath  promised  to  every  penitent  the  forgiveness  of  his 
sins,  but  He  hath  promised  to  no  procrastinator  certain  Hfe  until 
to-morrow.  Let  no  man  be  ashamed  to  make  known  his  sins  to  a 
teacher;  for  he  who  will  not  confess  his  sins  in  this  world  with  true 
contrition,  he  shall  be  shamed  before  God  Almighty,  and  before  the 

i6o.  W.mann.  W.bewepan.W.m(5t.      hreowsiendum. 

161.  D.  georlice,  cor.  to  geornlice.  166.  W.D.  forgifennysse  ;  E.  forgife- 
W.D.E.  eft.    W.  daedum.   D.  edlaece.        nysse.   W.  h^.    W.  beh^t.  W.E.  after 

162.  W.D.  mann.  W.  daetbote.  W.  elciendum  ins.  men.  W.E.  gewiss. 
m^nfuUan  ;  D.  manfuUum.    W.  diida.  W.D.E.  Iff.  W.E.  merien;  D.morigen. 

163.  D.  greiuaS.  W.  g(5d.  W.  om.  167.  W.D.E.  sceamie.  E.  men. 
swa  pset;  D.  and  (for  aw  a,  J>set) ;  E.  W.  ^num,  D.  wrongly  ins.  menn, 
om.  swa.   W.  htinde  gelfc.   W.  spiwS.  after  anum. 

164.  W.  £er  asp^w.  D.  apaw,  cor.  168.  W.D.E.  for  J)a}n  J)e.  E.  se 
to  aspaw.  W.D.  n^n.  W.D.E.  mann.  nele.     D.  I^isre.     E.  andetan. 

165.  W.  geb^te;  D.  gebeta.  W.D.E.  169.  W.  scemian,  cor.  to  sceamian. 
forjiam  ]>e.     W.  behet.     W.D.E.   be-  D.  atforen. 

18 


374  XII.    IN   CAPUT  JEJUNII. 

foran  his  engla  werodum  .  and  setforan  eallum  mannum .  and  setforan 

eallum  deoflum  set  (Sam  micclan  dome .  psdv  we  ealle  gegaderode  beo(5 . 

peer  beocS  cu'Se  ure  ealra  dgeda  eallum  Jjam  werodum .  and  setSe  ne  mseg  172 

for  sceame  his  gyltas  anuw  menn  ge-andettan  .  him  sceal  ]?onne  scea- 

mian .  setforan  heofon-warum .  and  eor'S-warum .  and  hel-warum .  and 

seo  sceamu  him  bicS  endeleas  ,  Witodlice  ne  begit  nan  mann  hys  synna 

forgifnysse  set  gode  .  buton  he  hi  sumum  godes  menn  geandette  .  and  176 

be  his  dome  gebete  .  Eft  ne  mot  nan  mann  ne  ne  sceal  secgan  on  hiae 

sylfne  Jjses  ^e  he  wyrcende  naes  .  swa  swa  we  on  bocum  raedacS  be  su- 

mumtreow-fsestum  wife .  J^e  wolde  hire  lif  forlsetan  serjjanj^e  heo  luge . 

Hieronimus^  se  halga  lareow  awrat  on  sumere  stowe  be  (Sam  wife  pus  .  180 

He  cwae'S  pcet  sum  wer  wsere  j?e  his  wif  forssede  . 

swa  Ipcet  heo  sceolde  hi  sceandlice  forlicgan  . 

and  hi  wurdon  pa  gebrohte  buta  to  tSam  deman  . 

pcet  unscyldige  wif  .  and  se  foresseda  cniht  .  184 

Hi  wurdon  pa  beswungene  .  and  swytSlice  getintregode  . 

swa  swa  |?a  wses  gewunelic  to  witnigenne  forligr  . 

Hi  man  clifrode  }?a  mid  isenum  clawum  . 

Jjset  hi  sceoldan  secgan  hwetSer  hit  sotS  waere  .  188 

Da  wolde  se  cniht  his  wite  ge-endian 

mid  sceoi'tum  dea'Se  .  and  forssede  hi  buta  . 

pa  cwsetS  pmt  anrsede  wif  .  betwux  }?am  antSrsecum  witum  . 

Eala  ?Su  drihten  crist  .  pe  ealle  digle  j^incg  wast  .  192 

tSu  pe  eart  modes  smeagend  and  manna  heortan  . 

pu  wast  pcet  ic  ne  wiS-sace  pcet  ic  sylf  ne  forfare  . 

ac  ic  nelle  secgan  unso'S  on  me  sylfe 


170.  D.  sethreii  (twice).  nesse  ;    E.    forgyfennyse.       E.   men. 

171.  W.E.  micelan  ;  D.  mycclum.  D.  geandgette. 

E.  ])ar.  177.  W.  ddme.     D.  om.  and  be  his 

172.  E.  ])ar.    W.  dseda.  dome  gebete.     W.  gebete.     W.  mdt. 

173.  E.  sceama.     E.  men.     E.  ge-  E.  man.     W.D.E.  secgean. 
andetan.  1-8.  W.  h6cum.     E.  sumumum. 

174.  D.    setforen.      W.D.   heofen-.  179.  W.D.E.  try wfestum.   W.  wife. 
W.E.  heUwarum.  W.D.  Iff.     D.  aliitan.     W.D.E.  sei- 

175.  D,   endel^a.s.      W.E.    begytt.  \>a.m]ie. 

E.  man.  180,  W.awrjCt.  W.sumre.  W.wlfe. 

176.  W,  forgifennysse ;  D.  forgifen-  i8r.  D.  were(/or  wer).     W.D.  wif 

'  Leaf  64,  back. 


XII.    ASH-WEDNESDAY.  275 

company  of  His  Angels,  and  before  all  men,  and  before  all  devils 

at  the  great  doom,  where  we  shall  all  be  gathered.    There  shall  all 

our  deeds  be  known  to  all  that  company ;  and  he  who  cannot  for 

shame  confess  his  sins  to  one  man,  shall  then  be  shamed  before  the 

hosts  of  heaven,  and  the  hosts  of  earth,  and  the  hosts  of  hell,  and 

his  shame  will  be  endless.     Verily,  no  man  gets  forgiveness  of  his 

sins  from  God,  unless  he  confess  them  to  some  man  of  God,  and  by 

his  judgment  make  satisfaction.      Neither  again  may  any  man  say, 

nor  ought  he  to  say,  respecting  himself,  such  [things]  as  he  hath  not 

done ;  even  as  we  read  in  books  about  a  cei-tain  faithful  woman, 

who  willed  to  lose  her  life  rather  than  to  lie.     Saint  Jerome,  the 

holy  doctor,  wrote  in  a  certain  place  about  the  woman,  thus — 

He  said  that  there  was  a  certain  man  who  accused  his  wife 

of  having  shamefully  committed  adultery; 

thereupon  they  were  both  brought  to  the  judge, 

the  guiltless  wife,  and  the  aforesaid  youth ;  184 

they  were  then  beaten  and  severely  tortured, 

as  it  was  then  customary  to  punish  adultery. 

They  then  scraped  them  with  iron  claws, 

in  order  that  they  might  say  whether  it  were  true  ;  188 

then  the  youth  desired  to  end  his  torment 

by  a  short  death,  and  wrongly  accused  them  both. 

Then  said  that  constant  woman,  amidst  the  horrible  tortures, 

'  Oh  Thou  Lord  Christ !    who  knowest  all  secret  things,  192 

Thou  who  art  the  searcher  of  the  soul,  and  of  men's  hearts, 

Thou  knowest  that  I  will  not  refuse  for  myself  to  die, 

but  I  will  not  speak  untruth  of  myself, 

forsaede.  188.  W.D.E.  sceoldon.    W.E.  sec- 

182.  W.D.E.  forlicgean.  gean.    W.D.E.  hwaetier. 

183.  W.  hf.   W.  butu ;  D.  buto,  cor,  '      189.  W.D.  wfte.     W.  ge^ndian. 
eobutu;  E.  buto.     W.  d^man.  190.  W.forssede.  W.D.E.hi.  W.D. 

184.  W.   linscyldie ;    E.  unscyldie.  btita. 

W.D.  wif.  191.  D.E.  wif.    E.  anwraecum  (stc). 

185.  E.  beswungenne.     D.  swiSe.  W.  witum. 

186.  D.  gewunelic  waes.    W.E.  wit-  192.  W.D.E.  ping.     W.  wjlst. 
nienne ;  D.  wf  tnigenne.      W.  forlfgr;  193.  W.  sm^agend.   W.E.  heortena, 
D.  forllr;  E.  foiilger.  194,  W.  w^st. 

187.  D.  mann.      W.  clifrode.      D.  195.  W.D.   secgean.       W.   iinso'5. 
hisenum,  cor,  to  isenum.                             E.  sylfne. 

18-2 


276  XII.     IN    CAPUT   JEJUNII. 

pcet  ic  wi^  pe  ne  syngie  .  gif  ic  me  sylfe  forleoge  .  196 

Heo  cwse'S  pa,  to  Sam  cnihte  .  eala  J?u  forcutSost  manna  . 

hwi  woldest  pn  forsecgan  unc  unscildige  swa? 

Ic  wylle  eac  sweltan  na  scyldig  swafjeali  . 

and  ic  ferige  mid  me  fortJ  unsce^jjignysse  .  200 

fortSan  pe  nates- h won  ne  swylt  se  pe  bitS  ofslagan  to  life  . 

pa  wundrode  se  dema  Jjses  wifes  anrsednysse  . 

pcet  heo  nolde  andettan  on  swa  earfo]3um  witum  . 

pcet  se  cniht  ssede  sona  for  yrli(5e  .  204 

and  demde  pcet  hi  man  sceolde  ofslean  buta  . 

pa  arn  pcet  folc  to  ardlice  for  wafunge  . 

and  se  cwellere  sloh  sona  ]?one  cniht 

pe  hine  sylfne  for-leah  .  pcet  he  Iseg  heofod-leas  208 

mid  anum  swencge  .  and  hine  siScSan  bewende 

to  J)am  anrsedan  wife  ,  wokle  hi  ofslean  . 

Heo  let  to  siege  and  he  sloh  J5a  t(5 

mid  eallum  msegene  .  ac  pcet  swurd  ne  mihte  212 

buton  pa  hytle  ceorfan  .  peah  pe  he  hetelice  sloge  . 

He  weartS  |3a  ofsceamod  and  sloh  eft  SAviSe  . 

f)a  set-stod  pest  swurd  and  ]3one  swuran  ne  hrepode  . 

ac  }?am  cwellere  set-feoll  fserlice  his  gold  .  216 

Jja})a  he  swa  hetelice  his  handa  cwehte  . 

pcet  wif  him  cwseS  to  .  Cniht  nim  J>in  gold  . 

pe  Iges  pe  hit  |3e  losige  poet  Su  lange  beswunce  . 

Swa  orsorh  wees  pcet  wif  under  ]5am  waeP-hreowan  cwellere  .   220 

pcet  heo  locode  his  goldes  pe  hi  belifian^  wolde  . 

pa  sloh  se  cwellere  git  mid  ]?am  swurde  hire  to  . 

ac  seo  halige  Jirynnys  pcet  swurd  gelette  . 

196.  W.  syngige  ;  E.  synnie.      E.       W.D.E.  ofslagen.     W.  life. 

sylfne.      D.  om.  all  the  line  except  202.  W.    d^ma.     D.    anrsednesse ; 

forleoge.  E.  andrsednysse. 

197.  D.  ])ii.  203.  D.  hio.     D.  sw^.     W.  wltuwi. 

198.  W.D.E.  forsecgean.      W.  iin-  205.  W.  d^mde.    W.  him  (/or  hi). 
Bcyldie  sw^  ;  D.E.  unscyldie  swa.  W.  ofslean  ;  D.  dfsl^^n.     E.  butan. 

199.  \V.  n^.     W.D.E.  scyldi.  206.  W.  ainn.    D.  td  hardlice.    W. 

200.  W.D.E.   ferie.      D.    unsceaS-  wafunge. 


207.  W.  sl6h. 
201.  W.D.E.  for])am  Se  nates-hwdn.  208.  W.  forleah.  W.  li£g  heafodldas. 

*  Leaf  65.  ^  Glossed  ly — vel  heafdian. 


XII.     ASH- WEDNESDAY.  2TJ 

that  I  may  not  sin  against  Thee,  if  I  belie  myself.'  i^6 

She  said  then  to  the  youth,  '  Oh  thou  wickedest  of  men ! 

Why  wouldest  thou  thus  falsely  accuse  us  two  guiltless  ones? 

I  desire  even  to  die,  not  guilty,  nevertheless, 

and  I  will  bear  forth  with  me  my  integrity,  200 

because  in  nowise  he  dieth  who  is  slain  unto  life  [eternal].' 

Then  wondered  the  judge  at  the  woman's  constancy, 

that  she  would  not  confess,  in  such   severe  tortures, 

that  which  the  youth  had  soon  said  from  cowardice,  204 

and  condemned  them  both  to  be  put  to  death. 

Then  ran  the  people  quickly  to  the  spectacle, 

and  forthwith  the  executioner  struck  the  youth 

who  had  belied  himself,  so  that  he  lay  headless  208 

with  one  stroke,  and  he  afterward  turned 

to  the  constant  woman,  desiring  to  slay  her. 

She  bent  down  for  the  stroke,  and  he  then  struck  at  her 

with  all  his  might,  but  the  sword  could  not  212 

cut  anything  but  the  skin,  though  he  struck  fiercely. 

He  grew  then  ashamed,  and  struck  again  strongly; 

then  the   sword  stood  still,  and  did  not  touch  the  neck; 

but  the  executioner's  gold  suddenly  fell  from  him,  216 

while  he  was  shaking  his  hands  so  violently. 

The  woman  said  to  him,  '  Youth,  take  thy  gold, 

lest  that  be  lost  to  thee  for  which  thou  hast  so  long  laboured.' 

So  unconcerned  was  the  woman  under  the  cruel  executioner,       220 

that  she  could  notice  the  money  of  him  who  would  deprive  her 

of  life  {pr^  who  would  behead  her). 
Then  the  executioner  struck  at  her  yet  again  with  the  sword, 
but  the  Holy  Trinity  held  back  the  sword, 

D.  im.  J)aer  after  Iseg.  216.  W.  faerlice. 

209.  W.D.E.  swenge.  217.  W.  h^nda. 

210.  W.  iinrsedan  wffe.  W.  ofslean.  218.  W.  wff. 

211.  W.  l^at;  D.  leat.     W.  om.  td.  219.  W.D.E.  losie. 
D.  sloh  ])a  to.     E.  slog  8a  {om.  to).  220,  D.  wif.     D.  })an. 

212.  W.  swrird.     D.  mihto.  221.  E.  locude.     W.  belffian. 

213.  E.butan.E.forceorfan.W.sldge.  222.  W.  sldli.     W.  git.     E.  to. 

214.  D.  ofsceamad.     W.  sldh.  223.  W.  Mlige ;   D.E.   halie.     W. 

215.  D.E.  setstod.     W.  swurd.     D.       J)rynnyss ;  D.  ))rynnesse ;  E.  Jjrynnysse. 
swura.  D.  gelahte. 


378  XII.     IN   CAPUT   JEJUNII. 

\>cet  hit  wundian  ne  moste  Jjses  wifes  swuran  .  224 

pa  wolde  he  j^urh-j^yn  hi  jjwyres  mid  Jjam  swurde  . 

ac  se  ord  bigde  upp  to  ]?am  hiltum  . 

and  ne  dorste  hi  hreppan  forSan  pe  heo  uses  dyrne  forligr  . 

pa  cwse'S  eall  seo  meniii  \)e  tSser  mid  stod  ofwundrod  .  228 

])cet  se  cwellere  ne  sceolde  swencan  hi  na  leng  . 

and  drifan  hine  aweg  mid  wsepne  mid  ealle  . 

Grod  wolde  pa.  git  his  wundra  geswutelian 

J3urh  pcet  anrsede  wif  .  and  him  gewearcS  pa,  eallum  332 

pcet  man  funde  niwe  swurd  and  niwne  slagan  j^aerto  . 

fortSan  pe  crist  wolde  hi  ge-edcucian  of  deatSe  . 

Heo  wearS  ]?a  ofslagan  .  ac  hire  swura  nees  jjurh-slagen  . 

Heo  wses  swa-]?eah  dead  and  sona  bebyrged  .  236 

ac  god  hi  eft  araerde  eaSelice  of  deacSe 

on  Jjsere  ylcan  nihte  .  and  heo  ansund  lyfode 

on  worulde  sitSSan  lange  to  wuldre  J^am  selmihtigan  . 

se  pe  hyre  unscse'SSignysse  swa  geswutelode  mid  wundrum  .  240 

Heo  nolde  seccgan  unso'5  and  hi  sylfe  fordeman  . 

fortJan  pe  se  leasa  mutJ  ofslihS  })8es  mannes  sawle  . 

Nu  ge  habbaS  gehyred  pcet  ge  forhelan  ne  sceolan 

eowre  agenne  syune  ne  eac  secgan  na  mare  344 

Jjonne  ge  wyrcende  wseron  .  pe  ma  pe  ]3is  wif  dyde  . 

for'San  pe  selc  hiwung  .  is  aut-ssete  gode  . 

Se  cniht  leah  on  hine  sylfne  and  ofslagen  wearS  sona  . 

swa  eac  dauid  cynincg  h^t  acwellan  |3one  mann  248 

pe  him  ssede  pcet  he  ofsloge  saul  }3one  cynincg  . 

and  wolde  mid  Jjsere  leasunge  licettan  wi'S  dauid  . 


324.  W.  wTindian.     D.  swiran.  231.  W.  ))agyt;  D.  ])a-get. 

225.  E.    J)urh))yn,       W.    hi.       E.  232.  D.  anraede.     E.  wif.     D.  ge- 
swyres.  warS. 

226.  W.  drd.     D.  begde.    W.D.E.  233.  W.  ftjnde.     W.D.  swiird.     W. 
up.  Jjserto;  E.  Jiarto. 

227.  W.D.E.  om.  and.  W.E.  for>am  234.  W.D.E.  forJjamSe. 

«e.     D.  derne.   W.D.  forligr ;  E.  for-  235.  D.  He,  cor.  fo  Heo.    W.E.  of- 

Ijger.  slagen,     D.  swiere.     D.  J>urh-slagan. 

228.  E.  mseniu.     E.  ]?ar.     E.  stod.  236.  D.  bebyried. 

229.  W.E.  swencean;  D.  swEencean.  237.  W.  arierde. 

230.  W.D.  drifon  ;  E.  drfan,  cor.  to  238.  W.E.  leofode  ;  D.  lyfede, 
diifar.     W.D.E.  waepnum.  239.  D.  sie 


XII.    ASH-WEDNESDAY.  279 

that  it  could  not  wound  the  woman's  neck.  224 

Then  he  would  have  pierced  her  through  with  the  sword, 

but  the  point  bent  up  to  the  hilt, 

and  durst  not  touch  her,  because  she  was  not  a  secret  adultress. 

Then  said  all  the  multitude  who  stood  there  astonished,         228 

that  the  executioner  should  vex  her  no  longer, 

and  drove  him  away  with  his  weapon  altogether. 

God  would  even  yet  manifest  His  wonders 

in  that  constant  woman,  and  it  was  thereupon  agreed  amongst 

them  all  232 

to  find  a  new  sword,  and  a  new  executioner  thereto ; 
because  Christ  would  revive  her  from  death. 
She  was  then  killed,  but  her  neck  was  not  stricken  through; 
she  was  nevertheless  dead,  and  quickly  buried ;  236 

but  God  easily  raised  her  again  from  death 
in  that  same  night,  and  she  lived  sound 
in   the    world   afterwai'd,  for   a   long   time,   to  the  glory  of  the 

Almighty, 
who  had  so  made  manifest  her  integrity  by  wonders.  240 

She  would  not  speak  untruth  of  herself  and  condemn  herself, 
because  a  lying  mouth  destroyeth  a  man's  soul. 
Now  ye  have  heard  that  ye  must  not  conceal 
your  own  sins,  neither  say  any  more  244 

than  ye  have  done,  any  more  than  this  woman  did ; 
because  all  false  pretence  is  repugnant  to  God. 
The  youth  lied  about  himself,  and  was  straightway  slain, 
as  likewise  king  David  bade  them  slay  the  man,  248 

who  had  told  him  that  he  had  killed  Saul  the  king, 
and  wished,  by  that  leasing,  to  dissemble  with  David. 


240.  W.  se,  om.  ])e;  D.E.  Jje,  om.  245.  W.D.   ma.     W.D.E.    om.   ])e 
se.    W.E.  unsce'SSinysse ;  D.  unsceS-  after  ma.     W.  wif. 

I)innesse.  246.  W.D.E.  for])aTO'Se.  W.  hiwung. 

241.  W.D.E.  secgean.       D.  linso^.  W.E.  and-ssete;  D.  ansaete. 

W.  ford^man.  247.  E.  leag.  D.  seine.  D.  ofslagan. 

242.  W.D.E.  forjjam.     D.  om.  })e.  248.  W.  ^ac.   W.D.  cyning.    D.E. 
W.D.  leasa.     D.  ofslehj).  het. 

243.  E.  gehyrd.     W.D.  sceolon.  249.  W.  ofsldge.  W.saiil;  D.  sawul. 

244.  W.E.  agene  synna.       W.  ^ac.  W.D.E.  cyning. 
W.D.E.  secgean.     W.  m^re.  250.  W.D.E.  liccettan. 


280  XII.     IN    CAPUT  JEJUNII, 

Dauid  clypode  |?at5a  se  cniht  dead  wses  . 

Nu  'Su  cwsede  poet  pn  acwealdest  Ipone  cynincg  saul  .  252 

beo  ]?in  blod  ofer  pe  and  bufan  j^inum  heafde  . 

Se  man  pe  wile  his  synna  andettan  and  gebetan  . 

he  sceal  don  Jjonne  forgifnysse  eallum  |?am  mannum 

pe  him  ser  abulgon  ,  swa  swa  hit  stent  on  j^am  pater-nosfre  .       256 

and  swa  swa  crist  cwsetS  on  ^  his  godspelle  .  He  cwse'S  . 

Buton  ge  forgifan  ]?am  mannum  pe  wiS  eow  agyltatS 

mid  inwerdre  heortan  .  nele  se  heofonlica  feeder 

eow  forgifan  eowre  gyltas  .  260 

^Ic  cristen  man  sceal  cunnan  his  pater-nosier  .  and  his  credan  . 

Mid  J?am  pater-nos<re  he  sceal  bine  gebiddan  . 

and  mid  ]?am  credan  he  sceal  his  geleafan  getrymman  . 

Se  lareow  sceal  secgan  ]?am  Isewedum  mannum  264 

pcet  andgyt  to  ]?am  pater-nosire  and  to  'Sam  credan  . 

pcet  hi  witon  hwses  hi  biddaS  set  gode  . 

and  hu  hi  sceolon  on  god  gelyfan  . 

We  sceolan  beon  ]?eonde  symble  on  godnysse  .  268 

and  elce  dseg  geeacnian  us  pa,  ecean  speda 

Jja  hwile  pe  we  moton  .  for'San  pe  we  ne  magon 

sefter  ure  geendunge  aht  ddn  to  gode  . 

ac  jjser  we  habbacS  edlean  ]3ses  tSe  we  ge-earnodon  her  .  272 

Ne  sceal  nan  mann  wenan  ne  on  his  mode  j?encan 

pcet  he  haebbe  gefremod  fela  to  gode  . 

and  ne  Jjurfe  na  mare  Jjyllices  began  . 

for'San  pe  he  forlyst  poet  lytle  p(Bt  he  ser  dyde  .  276 

gif  he  wenS  pcet  he  ne  'Sui'fe  ]?anon  forS  wyrcan 

nan'  J^incg  to  gode  .  swylce  he  to  god  sy  . 

251.  D.  wses  dead.  259.  W.E.  inneweardre  ;    D.  inne- 

252.  W.  cwade.     W.D.E.  cyning.       werdre. 

W.  saiil ;  D.  sawul.  260.  D.  forgifen. 

253.  W.  bldd.  261.  D.  cristan.  D.E.mann.  D.om. 

254.  W.D.E.  mann.     W.  gebetan.  his  after  cunnan. 

255.  D.E.  don.      D.  forgifennesse  ;  262.  D.  pater-nosfer. 
E.  forgifennysse.  263.  D.  pun. 

256.  W.  a;r.     D.  pater-noster.  264.  E.  leareow.    W.D.E,  secgean. 

257.  D.  his  Jjam  halgan.  265.  D.  angyt. 

258.  W.  ge.     W.D.E.  forgifon.  267.  E.  scylon.     W.  gelyfan ;    D. 

^  Leaf  65,  back. 


XII.    ASII-WliDNESDAY.  281 

David  exclaimed,  when  the  youth  was  dead, 

'  Now  thou  saidst  that  thou  killedst  the  king  Saul ;  252 

be  thy  blood  upon  thee  and  upon  thine  head.' 

The  man  who  will  confess  his  sins  and  make  restitution, 

he  must  grant  foi'giveness  to  all  those  persons 

who  have  before  angered  him,  even  as  it  standeth  in  the  Pater  Noster, 

and  as  Christ  said  in  His  gospel  ;    He  said, 

'  Except  ye  forgive  those  men  who  sin  against  you 

with  your  inmost  heart,  your  Heavenly  Father  will  not 

forgive  you  your  trespasses.'  260 

Every  Christian  man  must  know  his  Pater-Noster,  and  his  Creed. 

"With  the  Pater-Noster  he  shall  pray, 

and  with  the  Creed  he  shall  confirm  his  faith. 

The  master  shall  teach  the  unlearned  men  264 

the  meaning  of  the  Pater-Noster,  and  of  the  Creed, 

that  they  may  know  what  they  ask  of  God, 

and  how  they  are  to  believe  in  God. 

We  must  be  ever  increasing  in  goodness,  268 

and  every  day  increase  for  ourselves  the  eternal  riches, 

the  while  we  may,  because  we  cannot, 

after  our  ending,  do  aught  that  is  good, 

but  there  we  shall  have  reward  of  that  which  we  have  merited  here. 

No  man  may  imagine,  nor  think  in  his  mind 

that  he  hath  done  too  many  good  deeds, 

and  need  do  no  more  of  the  like  kind; 

because  he  will  lose  the  little  that  he  before  did,  276 

if  he  weeneth  that  he  need  not  thenceforth  do 

anything  good,  as  if  he  were  too  good. 

gelefan.  to  her  ;  E.  her. 

268.  W.E.  sceolon.  W.  J)d(5nde.  W.  273.  W.  niSn.     W.  we'nan.      W.D. 
D.E.  symle.     W.  gddnysse;  D.  god-       m(5de.     W.D.E.  >encean. 

nesse.  2  74.  D.  haebe.     E.  feala.    E.  gode. 

269.  W.D.E.   selce,     W.   ds.     W.  275.  W.  m^re.     D.E.  began, 
^cean  sp^da.  276.  W.E.  for  famfe.      W.  forlyst. 

270.  W.  hwile.  W.D.mdton.  W.E.  W.  lyttle.     D.  >e  he  {for  Jjaet  he), 
forjam,  \&.  W.  a;r. 

271.  W.  ge^ndunge.     W.  to  gode  277.  W.  wen^\    W.D.E.  wyrcean. 
don;D.  togodegeddn;  E.  togodedon.  278.  W.  n^n.      W.D.E.  jjing.     E. 

272.  E.  ])ar.  W.  abba's.  D.  ser,  cor.  gode.     D.E.  god.     W.  sf. 


282  XIII.    DE   ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

Tela  halige  menn  fram  frym'Se  middan-eardes  . 

wseron  beforan  us  wundorlice  gejjogene  .  280 

Jjam  we  nu  ende-menn  geefenlsecan  ne  magon  . 

ne  ?5a  J>ing  gefyllan  pe  hi  gefremodon  on  life  . 

fortSi  we  sceolan  liabban  huru  eadmodnysse  . 

Eft  is  us  to  smeagenne  hu  se  aelmihtiga  crist  284 

his  eadmodnysse  cydde  .  |3a?Sa  he  to  cwale  sealde 

hine  sylfne  for  us  .  and  swa  ure  synna  set-brsed  . 

hu  mseg  nu  manna  eadmodnys  beon  mycel  ge]juht  . 

togeanes  his  eadmodnysse  J?e  selmihtig  god  is  .  288 

We  ssedon  nu  J^is  spel  .  fortSan  Ipe  her  biS  lees  manna 

on  wodnes  dseg  .  tSonne  nu  to  dseg  beo(5  . 

and  eow  gebyratS  Ipcet  ge  beon  gescrifene  . 

on  Sissere  wucan  ,  o'ScSe  huru  on  tSsere  o'Sre  .  292 

Sy  him  d  wuldor  tSe  leofatS  .  and  rixaS  on  ecuysse  . 

ece  drihten  .  AMm ; 


XIII. 

DE  ORATIONE  MOYSI  .  IN  MEDIO  QUADRAGESIME. 

[The  various  readings  are  from  W.  =  MS.  li.  4.  6,  in  the  Cambridge  Uni- 
versity Library  (p.  201);  D.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  303  (p.  333);  and 
F.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  162  (p.  66). 

yi^FTER  Sam  ?5e  moyses  se  m^ea  heretoga 
./JLj  of  AE^gyfta  lande  mid  his  leode  ferde  . 
and  ofer  Sa  readan  see  siSodon  mid  fotum  . 
and  becomon  to  c5am  westene  .  j?a  wan  him  on  switSe  4 

amalech  se  cynincg  mid  his  leode  feohtend  . 

279.  E.  Feala.    W.D.E.  halie.  hure.     D.  crist. 

280.  E.  befor.     W.  us.  285.  D.  eadmodnesse.     E.  cy'JSde. 

281.  W.D.E.  om.nu.  W.^ndemenn.  286,  D,  selfne.  W.  lis.  W.  sw^.  W. 
W.D.E.  geefen-lsDcean.  eetbrjed. 

282.  W.E.gefremedon;  D.  gefremo-  287.  D.  eadmodnesse;  E.  eadmod- 
den.    W.  life.  nyss. 

283.  W.  for])f.  W.E,  sceolon.  D.  288.  D.  eadmodnesse.  W.E.  J)e  is 
huru  eadmodnesse  habban .                          aelmihti  god  ;  D.  ])e  is  selmihtig  god. 

284.  W.  ris.  D.  usis.  W.  smeagenne       W,   offer  this  line  inserts  SI  him  d 

1  Leaf  66. 


XIII.  THE  PRAYER  OF  MOSES  (mID-LENT).       283 

Many  holy  men  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 

were,  before  us,  wondrously  perfected,  380 

whom  we  now,  the  latter  men,  cannot  equal, 

nor  accomplish  those  things  which  they  performed  in  life; 

therefore  we  ought  to  have  at  least  humility. 

Again,  it  is  for  us  to  meditate  how  the  Almighty  Christ       284 

showed  forth  His  humility,  when  He  gave  Himself 

to  death  for  us,  and  so  took  away  our  sins  ; 

how  now  can  man's  humility  be  much  thought  of 

against  His  humility,  who  is  Almighty  God.  288 

We  have  told  this  story  now,  because  there  will  be  fewer  men  here 

on  Wednesday,  than  are  now  to-day  ; 

and  it  behoveth  you  that  ye  be  shriven 

in  this  week,  or  at  least  in  the  second.  292 

To  Him  be  ever  glory,  Who  liveth  and  reigneth  in  eternity, 

Everlastincf  Lord.      Amen. 


XIII. 

Xni.   DE  ORATIONE  MOYSI ;   IN  MEDIO 
QUADRAGESIMA. 

After  Moses  the  great  leader 

had  departed  from  the  land  of  Egypt  with  his  people, 

and  they  had  journeyed  on  foot  over  the  Red  Sea, 

and  come  into  the  wilderness,  there  warred  mightily  against  them  4 

Amalek  the  king,  fighting  with  his  people. 

wuldor  on  ^cnysse.  Amen;  D.  Si  him  XIII.       Title.      W.  om.  IN  MEDIO 

a  wuldor  on  ecnesse.    Amen  ;   E.  Si  QUadragesime.  D.  in  media  quadra- 

him  a  wuldor  on  necnysse.  Amen.  gesima.  F.acW«VELQUAND0V0LVERi8. 

289.  W.E.  spell.  W.  for>aTO  J)e.    E.  I.  D.  Efter  ])an.     F.  maere. 

beo^.     W.  ItKs.  2.  W.F.  egipta.     W.  Unde. 

390.  W.D.E.  om.  ^onne  nu  to  daeg  3.  D.  see.    W.F.  fdtum.     D.  mid 
beotS.  driurra  fotum. 

391.  D.  gebyroS.  4.  W.  becomon;   F.  becom.    W.D. 
293.  W.  J)ysre  ;  D.  Jjissere  oSSre.          wann  ;  F.  wan,  cor.  to  wann.    F.  on. 
293.  W.D.E.   om.   Sy  him,  to  the  5.  F.  amaleb.    W.D.F.  cyning.   D. 

end.  swi'Se  feohtende, . 


284  XIII.     DE    ORATIONE    MOYSI. 

pa  cwsetS  moyses  to  J)am  cenan  iosue  . 

Geceos  tSe  nu  wseras  .  and  gewend  tomergen 

togeanes  amaleh  .  and  win  him  on  swytSe  .  8 

ic  sylf  wille  standan  on  tSisum  steapum  munte . 

haebbende  me  on  handa  ]?a  halgan  godes  gyrde  . 

Iosue  Jja  ferde  and  feabt  wi'S  amalech  . 

and  moyses  Ipa,  astdh  to  ]?am  sticolan  munte  .  12 

mid  aarone  .  and  bur  .  }?one  selmightigan  to  biddenne  . 

pa  ahefde  moyses  his  handa  on  gebedum  . 

and  Iosue  hsefde  sige  .  and  slob  pa.  bse'Senan  . 

Eft  tJonne  moyses  ne  mihte  lencg  babban  16 

bis  banda  astrehte  .  J^onne  hsefde  amalech 

sige  Jja  hwile  .  and  sloh  pcet  godes  folc  . 

Swa  oft  swa  moyses  ahefde  bis  handa  on  gebedum 

swa  hsefde  Iosue  heofonlicne  fultuw  .  20 

and  sona  swa  bis  earmas  for  unmibte  aslacodon  . 

sona  sloh  amalech  .  and  sige  hsefde  on  him  . 

Moyses  handa  wseron  mycclum  gehefegode  . 

aaron  pa  alede  senne  ormetne  st^n  24 

under  moysen  .  and  be  sset  jjser  onuppan  . 

and  aaron  absefde  his  hand  upp  on  gebedum  . 

and  bur  heold  pa,  otSre  o]5]3ce^  bit  sefnode  . 

Iosue  pa  hsefde  heofonlicne  fultum  .  28 

and  afligde  amalech  and  his  folc  mid  wsepnum  . 

Be  J)isum  we  magon  tocnawen  pcet  we  cristene  sceolan 

on  selcere  earfoSnisse  sefre  to  gode  clypian  . 

and  bis  fultumes  biddan  mid  fullum  geleafan  .  32 

gif  be  tSonne  nele  his  fultum  us  d6n 

ne  ure  bene  gehyran  .  ]3onne  bitS  bit  swutol 

6.  W.  k^nen  ;  F.  cenan.  13.  W.F.  aarone,    D.  ins.  his  breSer 

7.  W.D.  Geckos.    W.  nii.    W.D.F.       after  aarone.     F.  dr.     F.  aelmihtigan 
weras.  W.  gewend.   W.D.  to  merien ;       god. 

F.  to  merigen.  14.  W.  h^nda. 

8.  W.D.  amalech.  15.  D-  sldh. 

9.  W.  stiindan.    D.F.  steapan.   W.  16.  W.D.  leng. 

iminte.  17.  W.  h:inda.     W.  astrehte. 

10.  W.  handa.  18.  W.  hwlle. 

11.  W.  f^rde.  19.  W.  ahefde;    D.  ahaefde.      W. 
13.  D.F.  astah.  W.  mdnte.                  handa. 


XIII.     THE    EllAYER    OF    MOSES    (mID-LENt).  285 

Then  said  Moses  to  the  brave  Joshua, 

'  Choose  thee  now  men,  and  go  to-morrow 

against  Amalek,  and  fight  valiantly  against  him,  8 

I  myself  will  stand  on  this  steep  mountain, 

having  in  my  hands  the  holy  rod  of  God.' 

Joshua  then  went  and  fought  with  Amalek, 

and  Moses  then  ascended  the  rugged  mountain,  la 

with  Aaron  and  Hur,  to  pray  to  the  Almighty. 

Then  Moses  raised  his  hands  in  prayer, 

and  Joshua  had  victory,  and  slew  the  heathen. 

Afterward,  when  Moses  could  no  longer  hold  i6 

his  hands  stretched  out,  then  had  Amalek 

the  victory  for  a  while,  and  slew  the  people  of  God. 

As  often  as  Moses  raised  his  hands  in  prayer, 

so  often  had  Joshua  heavenly  succour;  20 

and  as  soon  as  his  arms  slackened  from  weakness, 

immediately  Amalek  smote,  and  had  victory  over  them. 

Moses'  hands  were  very  much  weighed  down; 

Aaron  then  placed  an  exceeding  great  stone  24 

under  Moses,  and  he  sat  thereupon, 

and  Aaron  raised  up  his  hand  in  prayer, 

and  Hur  held  the  other  until  it  was  evening. 

Joshua  then  had  heavenly  succour,  28 

and  put  to  flight  Amalek  and  his  people  with  weapons. 

By  this  we  may  learn  that  we  Christians  shovild 

in  every  distress,  ever  cry  to  God, 

and  entreat  His  aid,  with  full  faith ;  33 

if  He  then  will  not  give  us  His  aid, 

nor  hear  our  prayer,  then  will  it  be  manifest. 


21.W.  s6na.  D.  earmes.  F.  asl£iced-  26.  W.D.F.  jiaron.      D.F.  ahefde. 

on.  W.  hand.     D.F.  up. 

22.  W.D.  sl6h.  27.  W.  In'ir;  F.  ur. 

23.  D.  Moyse,  cor.  <o  Moyses.     W.  29.  F.  amalsech. 

Mnda.    W.  micelmn.     D.  gehefgode;  30.  W.  to-cn^wan;  D.F.  to-cnawan. 

F.  gehsefgode.  D.  cristene  menn.    W.D.F,  sceolon. 

34.  W.F,  ii^ron ;    D.  aaron,       W.  33.  W.D.F.  ds. 

alede ;    D.  al^gede  ;    F.  lt$de.     W.F,  34,  W.  bdne.   D,  geheran.    W,  om. 

ormaetne  ;  D.  ormsete.     D.  stan.  hit. 


286  XIII.     DE    OEATIONE    MOYSI. 

])cBt  we  mid  yfelum  dsedum  hine  ser  gegreraedon  . 

ac  we  ne  sceolon  swatSeah  geswican  Jjsere  bene  .  36 

d^pcet  se  mild-heorta  god  us  mildelice  ahredde  . 

Moyses  baefde  sige  and  mycelne  fultum  . 

pa,  hwile  pe  he  heold  his  handa  on  ge-bedum  . 

and  his  willa  ne  ateorode  ac  se  werige  lichama  .  40 

Nu  habbe  we  gewinn  witS  j^one  heteUan  deofol  . 

and  he  wintS  on  us  fortSan  pe  he  wselhreow  is  . 

hu  bits  Jjoune  gif  we  nellatS  to  j^am  hselende  clypian  . 

ponne  moyses  werignyss  ne  mibte  beon  beladod  .  44 

Witodlice  bitS  ofer-swi'Sed  Jsurh  }7one  swicolan  deofol  . 

setSe  nele  clypian  crist  him  to  fultume  . 

iElc  rihtwis  man  hsefde  swa  swa  we  rsedacS  on  bocum 

fultum  and  hreddinge  .  seSe  mid  fullum  geleafan  48 

on  his  earfoSnyssum  to  'Sam  selmihtigan  clypode  . 

Nis  nan  ]?incg  swa  laS  J5am  geleafleasum  deofle  . 

swa  pcet  hine  man  gebidde  bealdlice  to  gode  . 

fort5an  pe  [se]  swicola  wdt  pcet  his  wsepne  sceolan  52 

pvLrh  halige  gebedu  toberstan  swiSost  . 

and  he  bitS  ofer-swi(5od  simble  J?urh  gebedu  . 

For]?!  he  cunnatJ  georne  Jjonne  we  clypiatS  to  gode 

hu  he  msege  tobrsecan  |?a  ge-bedu  mid  costnungum  .  56 

and  ure  mod  awendan  of  j^am  weorce  J)urh  pcet  . 

oSSe  he  mid  geameleaste  huru  us  gebysgacS  . 

o]3]?e  mid  smeagungum  .  smealice  us  hremtS  . 

ponne  we  us  gebidda'S  mid  byle-witum  mode  60 

Jjonne  sprece  we  sotSlice  to  gode  sylfum  swa  . 

And  Jjonne  we  b^c  rseda'S  oStSe  rsedan  gehyratS . 

35.  D.  Eer.  44.  D.  Jjonnum.     W.  werignys ;  D. 

36.  F.  dc  Vf6.     W.  ])3ere  b^ne  ge-  werigness.     W.  beHdod. 
swlcan  ;  D.  jjsere  bene  geswican.  46.  P.  cleopian. 

37.  F.  lis.  47.  F.  mann.      W.D.  swa  (once). 

39.  W.  h^nda.  W.  ra;dat5.     W.  b(5cum. 

40.  W.D.F.  weriga.  49.  D.  is  eardfo'Snessum.      F.  ael- 

41.  W.D.F.  hsebbe.     W.D.F.  lieto-       mihtigan  gode.     D.  cleopode. 

Ian.  50.  W.D.F.  })ing.   D.  geldafleasum  ; 

42.  D.  (5n.    F,  us.    W.D.  for])amJ)e.       F.  geleafleasan. 

43.  W.  hii.   D.  beo^.  F.  om.  J)onne.  51.  F.  mann  hine. 

^  Leaf  66,  back. 


XIII.    THE    PRAYER   OF    MOSES    (MID-LENT).  287 

that  we  liave  before  angered  Him  by  evil  deeds ; 

but  nevertheless  we  shotJd  not  desist  from  that  prayer,  36 

until  the  compassionate  God  mercifully  deliver  us. 

Moses  had  victory,  and  great  succour, 

the  while  he  held  up  his  hands  in  prayer ; 

and  his  will  fainted  not,  but  the  weary  body.  40 

Now  have  we  warfare  against  the  fierce  devil, 

and  he  fighteth  against  us,  because  he  is  cruel ; 

how  will  it  be  then  if  we  will  not  cry  to  the  Saviour, 

since  the  weariness  of  Moses  might  not  be  excused  ]  44 

Verily  he  shall  be  overcome  by  the  deceitful  devil, 

who  will  not  call  Christ  to  help  him. 

Every  righteous  man  has  had,  even  as  we  read  in  books, 

succour  and  deliverance,  when  he,  with  full  faith,  48 

in  his  diflSculties  has  cried  to  the  Almighty. 

There  is  nothing  so  hateful  to  the  faithless  devil 

as  that  a  man  pray  boldly  to  God ; 

because  the  deceiver  knoweth  that  his  weapons  must  52 

by  holy  prayers  be  soonest  broken  in  pieces, 

and  he  will  be  alway  overcome  by  prayers. 

Therefore  he  seeketh  diligently,  when  we  cry  to  God, 

how  he  may  destroy  those  prayers  by  temptations,  56 

and  turn  our  minds  thereby  from  that  work. 

Either  he  will,  at  least,  occupy  us  with  negligence, 

or  subtly  disquiet  us  with  curious  enquiries. 

"When  we  pray  with  simple-mindedness,  60 

then  speak  we  verily  to  God  Himself  thus  ; 

and  when  we  read  books,  or  hear  them  read, 

52.  W.D,  for})am  J^e.  W.D.F.  m«,  57.  W.mdd.  W.aw^ndan;  D.awsen- 
se,  which  A,  om.  D.F.  waepna.  W.F.  dan.  D.  ])an  weorcum.  F.  \>avh.  pcet 
Bceolon.  of  J>am  weorce. 

53.  W.D.  halie,     F.  gebeda.  58.  F.  oSiSse.   W.F.  gymeleaste ;  D. 

54.  W.D.F.  ofer-swiSed  symle.    F.  gemeaste  {om-  huru).     W.  iis. 
gebeda.  59.  W.  us.     F.  hremS,  cor.  to  dere'S. 

55.  W.  for})f.  ^o.  W.  tis.     F.  bylewytan  mdde. 

56.  W.  magen;  D.F.  mage.  W.D.  61.  W.  swd ;  F.  swa  (riearly  oh- 
to-brecan ;    F.  to-braecan,  cor.  to  to-  literafed). 

brecan.  62.  D.  bee. 


288  XIII.     DE    ORATIONE    MOYSl. 

Jjonne  sprect?  god  to  us  )?urh  }ja  gastlican  rsedincge  . 

Se  man  mot  hine  gebiddan  swa  swa  he  maeg  and  cann  .  64 

forcSan  ]>e  se  selmihtiga  god  cann  selc  gereord  tocnawan  . 

and  on  selcere  stowe  man  mot  msersian  his  drihten  . 

and  hine  gebiddan  beo  J?8er]38er  he  beo. 

Man  sceal  swajjeah  secan  cyrcan  gelome'  .  68 

and  man  ne  mot  spellian  ne  sprsece  drifan 

binnan  godes  cyrcan  .  for^an  Jje  heo  gebed-hus  is  . 

gode  gehalgod  to  ]7am  gastlicum  sprsecum  . 

Ne  man  ne  sceal  drincan  o(SSe  dwollice  etan  72 

binnan  godes  huse  .  J^e  is  gehalgod  to  ]5am  . 

pcet  man  godes  lichaman  mid  geleafan  j^ser  j^icge  . 

Nu  dots  menn  swa-]?eah  dyslice  foroft  . 

poet  hi  willa'S  wacian  and  wodlice  drincan  76 

binnan  godes  huse  and  bysmorlice  plegan  . 

and  mid  gegaf-sprsecum  godes  ^hus  gefylan  , 

ac  tSam  wsere  betere  poet  hi  on  heora  bedde  lagon 

Sonne  hi  gegremedon  god  on  p&m  gastlican  huse  .  80 

Se)?e  wylle  wacian  and  wurSian  godes  halgan  . 

wacie  mid  stilnysse  and  ne  Avyrcan  nan  gehlyd  . 

ac  singe  his  gebedu  swa  he  selost  cunne  . 

and  set5e  wile  drincan  .  and  dwaeslice  hlydan  .  84 

drince  him  set  ham  .  na  on  drihtnes  huse  . 

pcet  h6  god  ne  unwui-(Sige  to  wite  him  sylfum  . 

Us  is  neod  pcet  we  clypian  to  criste  gelome 

buton  hyge-leaste  and  hiwunge  swa  tSeah  .  88 

Swa  swa  se  lichoma  leofaS  be  hlafe  and  drence  . 

swa  sceal  seo  sawl  libban  be  lare  and  gebedum  . 

63.  "W.F.  spryCS.    W.  lis.    W.D.F.  70.  W.F.    binnon.      W.   cyrcean  ; 
rsedinge.  D.  circean.     W.  for])am  ]>e.     W.D.  is 

64.  W.D.F.  mann.     W.F.  m6t.  gebed-hiis ;  F.  is  gebed-hus. 

65.  W.  forjjam  J)e.  71-  F.  sprsecum. 

66.  W.F.  mot.      F.  msersian,     D.  72.  W.D.F,  dolHce. 
drihtenes  naman.                                              73.  W.  binnon. 

67.  D.  ]jaer  (only  once).  74.  I>-  J>ige.  cor.  to  J)icge. 

68.  W.D.  secean  cyrcean.     F.  cy-  76,  W,  wddlice. 

rican.     W.  gelome.  77-  W.D.F.  binnon.     D.  bismerli- 

69.  W.F.  mdt.    W.  sprseca  drifan ;       cean.     W.D.  plegean. 

F,  sprseca  drifan ;  D,  drifan  sprseca.  78.  F.  gafsprsecum.    W.hds  gefylan. 

*  See  Thorpe,  Anc.  Laws,  ii.  356,  note.  *  Leaf  67. 


XIII.     THE   PRAYER   OF   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  289 

then  God  speaketh  to  us  through  the  spiritual  reading. 

A  man  must  pray  even  as  he  may  and  can,  64 

because  Almighty  God  can  understand  all  speech ; 

and  in  every  place  must  he  magnify  his  Lord, 

and  continue  in  prayer  wherever  he  be. 

Nevertheless  a  man  ought  to  seek  church  frequently,  68 

and  a  man  may  not  talk  nor  hold  conversations 

within  God's  church,  because  it  is  the  house  of  prayer, 

hallowed  to  God  for  ghostly  discourses. 

Neither  ought  a  man  to  drink  or  foolishly  eat  72 

within  God's  House,  which  is  hallowed  to  this  [purpose], 

that  a  man  may  there  taste  of  God's  body  with  faith. 

Now  men,  nevertheless,  act  foolishly  very  often, 

in  that  they  will  watch  and  madly  drink  76 

within  God's  house,  and  play  shamefully, 

and  with  foolish  talking  defile  God's  house  ; 

but  it  were  better  for  them  that  they  lay  in  their  beds, 

than  that  they  should  anger  God  in  the  spiritual  house.  80 

He  who  will  watch,  and  worship  God's  Saints, 

let  him  watch  in  stillness,  and  make  no  disturbance, 

but  sing  his  prayers  as  he  best  knoweth  how ; 

and  he  who  will  di'ink,  and  make  a  foolish  noise,  84 

let  him  drink  at  home,  not  in  the  Lord's  house, 

that  he  dishonour  not  God,  to  his  own  punishment. 

We  have  need  to  cry  often  to  Christ, 

but  without  carelessness  and  hypocrisy.  88 

Even  as  the  body  liveth  by  bread  and  drink, 

so  shall  the  soul  live  by  doctrine  and  prayers. 


79.  F.  bsetere,    W.D.F.  hi.    W.D.  htise, 

hyra.     W.D.F.  Mgon.  86.  W.D.F.  he.     W.D.  unwur^ie  ; 

80.  W.D.F.  hi.     D.  gegrsemodon.  F.  unwurSi,  cw.  to  unwurSige.  W.D. 
D.  gastlicen.     W.D.  h\ise.  F.  wlte. 

81.  F.  w^ian.  87.  W.  clypion.      W.D.F.  gel(5me. 

82.  D.  wacian ;    F.   wacige.       W.  88.  F.  butan.     D.  higeleaste. 
stillnysse;  D.  stilnesse.  W.D.F.  wyrce.  89.  W.D.  lichama.    W.  hUfe.    W. 
W.  gehlyd.  drlnce  ;  D.  drince. 

84.  D.  wille.     W.   dw^slice.     D.  90.  W.D.   sawvil.        F.  seo  sawul 
libban  {for  hlydan).  sceal.     W.  Isire ;    D.  larum.    F.  ge- 

85,  D.  drincse.      W.  hfim  nd.      W.  b^dura. 

19 


290  XIII.     DE    ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

Fela  dyslice  daeda  deriaS  mancynne  . 

o'StSe  for  anwylnysse  oScSe  for  ungerade  .  92 

Swa  swa  sume  menn  do's  }?e  dyslice  fsestatS 

ofer  heora  mihte  .  on  gemaenelicum  lenctene  . 

swa  swa  we  sylfe  gesawon  .  o'^pcet  hi  seoce  wurdon  . 

Sume  fseston  eac  swa  .  pcet  hi  forsawon  to  etanne  96 

buton  on  tSone  otJerne  dseg  .  and  seton  Jponne  grsediglice  . 

ac  us  secgaS  b6c  pcet  sume  fseston 

swa  pcet  hi  geswencton  hi  sylfe  forSearle  • 

and  nane  mede  nsefdon  ]?3es  mycclan  geswinces  .  lOo 

ac  'Sses  pe  fyrr  wseron  godes  miltsunge  . 

Nu  ge-setton  'Sa  halgan  fsederas  pcet  we  fseston  mid  gerade  . 

and  selce  dseg  eton  mid  ge-dafenlicnysse  . 

swa  pcet  ure  lichama  .  alefed  ne  wurtSe  104 

ne  eft  ofer  fset  to  idelum  lustum  . 

pes  card  nis  eac  ealles  swa  msegen-fsest . 

her  on  uteweardan  |3sere  eorcSan  bradnysse  . 

swa  swa  heo  is  to-middes  on  msegen-fsestum  eardum  .  108 

Jjser  man  mseg  fsestan  freolicor  Sonne  h6r  . 

Ne  nu  nis  mancynn  swa  mihtig  .  swa  menn  wseron  set  fruman. 

Nis  nan  fsesten  swa  god  ne  gode  swa  ge-cweme  . 

swa  swa  pcet  fsesten  is  pcet  man  fulnysse  onscunige  .  112 

and  leahtras  forbuge  .  and  forlsete  sace  . 

and  mid  godum  biggencgum  .  gode  ge-cweme  . 

and  mid  gesceade  libbe  swa  swa  we  ssedon  zer  . 

Ne  sceal  se  wise  mann  beon  butan  godum  weorcura  .  .116 

ne  se  ealde  ne  beo  buton  sewfsestnysse  . 

ne  se  iunga  ne  beo  butan  gehyrsumnysse  . 

ne  se  ^welega  ne  beo  butan  selmes-dsedum  . 

92.  F.  ^nwilnysse.    W.F.  ungerade.  99.  W.F.  hi.     D,  geswaencton.    D. 

94.  W.  hyra.     W.D.  lengtene.  selfe. 

95.  W.  F.  gesawon.      D.  heo.    W.  100.  F.  n^ne.    W.F.  m^de.    F.  ins. 
hi.     W.  seoke  ;  F.  se<5ce.  set  gode  after  naefdon.   W.D.  micelan. 

96.  F.  edc.      W.F.  swa.      D.  eac  loi.  F.  fyr,      D.  waren.      W.D.F. 
fsestan.      D.   heo.      W.F.   forsd,won.  fram  godes,     W.  mildsunge. 
W.D.F.  etenne.  102.  F.  Nti.   D.  gesettan.   W.D.F. 

97.  D.  d%.   D.  seten  ;  F.  seton.   F. 


grfediglice.  103.  F.  eton.     D.  gedafenlicnesse. 

'  Leaf  67,  back. 


XIII.    THE   PRAYEE   OF   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  291 

Many  foolish  deeds  injure  mankind, 

either  from  selfwill,  or  from  want  of  thought.  92 

Even  as  some  men  do  who  foolishly  fast 

beyond  their  strength  in  the  catholic  Lent, 

even  as  we  ourselves  have  seen,  until  they  have  fallen  sick. 

Some  also  fast,  so  that  they  have  refused  to  eat,  96 

save  on  the  alternate  day,  and  then  ate  greedily ; 

but  books  tell  us  that  some  so  fasted, 

that  they  afflicted  themselves  very  grievously, 

and  had  no  reward  for  this  great  hardship,  100 

but  were  the  farther  on  this  account  from  God's  pity. 

Now  the  holy  Fathers  have  appointed  that  we  fast  with  prudence 

and  eat  befittingly  every  day, 

so  that  our  body  become  not  enfeebled,  104 

nor  again  over  fat  unto  vain  lusts. 

Moreover,  this  country  is  not  so  abundant  in  strength, 

here,  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  earth's  extent, 

as  is  that  in  the  midst,  in  the  strength-abundant  region,        108 

where  men  can  fast  more  easily  than  here. 

Nor  is  mankind  so  strong  now  as  men  were  at  the  beginning. 

There  is  no  fasting  so  good,  nor  so  pleasing  to  God, 

as  is  this  fasting,  that  a  man  shun  foulness,  113 

and  avoid  sins,  and  leave  off  contentions, 

and  please  God  with  good  services, 

and  live  discreetly,  even  as  we  said  before. 

The  wise  man  must  not  be  without  good  works,  116 

nor  the  old  be  without  piety, 

nor  the  young  be  without  obedience, 

nor  the  wealthy  be  without  almsd'eeds, 

104.  W.  sw^.  forlsete,    W.D.  sake. 

105.  W.D.F.  msest  (/or  fset).      F.  114.  W.  bigengum  ;  F.  biggencum  ; 
Idelum,  D.  bigengum.    W.  gecw^me. 

106.  W.  e^c,  115.  W.  sredon.     D.  ser. 

107.  W.  bradnysse;  D.  bradnesse.  116.  W.F.  wlsa;  D.  wisa.  D.man. 

109.  D.  fseston.     D.F.  her.  W.D.F.  buton.     W.  g6dum. 

110.  W.  nd.     W.  mancyn;  F.  n^n  117.  W.D.  ealdaj  F.  ealda  mann. 
raancynn.     D.  frumon.  W.F.  eawfsestnysse  ;  D.  eawfestnesse. 

111.  W.D.F.  god.     W.  gecw^me.  118.  F.  n^  s^.     W.D.  buton.     D. 

112.  W.D.  swa  (on??/ once).  W.D.F.  gehersumnesse. 

is.     W.  fdlnysse.     W.D.  onscunie.  119.      W.F.    buton    selmysdaedum 

113.  D.  leahtres.   W.  forbuge.    W.       (F.  -dsedum). 

19—2 


292  XIII.     DE    ORATIONE    MOYSI. 

ne  wifmen  ne  beon  butan  sidefulnysse  .  120 

ne  se  hlaford  ne  beo  leas  on  wordum  . 

ne  nan  cristen  man  ne  sceal  sceandlice  flitan  . 

Eft  bits  switSe  Jjwyrlic  .  pcet  'Searfa  beo  modig  . 

and  forcutSlic  hit  bitS  pcet  cyning  beo  unrihtwis  .  124 

eac  bits  swy)je  derigendlic  ])<xt  bisceop  beo  gymeleas  . 

and  un-fremful  .  bitS  Ipcet  folc  beo  butan  steora  . 

otStSe  butan  .  ee  .  him  eallum  to  hearme  . 

pissere  worulde  hsel  is  .  poet  heo  witan  hsebbe  .  128 

and  swa  md  witena  beotS  on  bradnysse  middan-eardes  . 

swa  hit  bet  fsertS  sefter  tSges  folces  Jiearfa  . 

Ne  bits  se  na  wita  .  ]>e  unwislice  leofatS  . 

ac  bits  open  sott  |?eah  }?e  him  swa  ne  tSince  .  132 

Gif  tSa  gehadodan  menn  healdatS  godes  tSeowdom 

on  gesettan  timan  .  and  syferlice  libbatS 

and  gif  tSa  laewedan  menn  libbatS  sefter  rihte  . 

Jjonne  wite  we  to  gewissan  .  pcet  god  wile  fore-sceawian  136 

ure  gesundfulnysse  .  and  sibbe  mid  us  . 

and  tSserto-ecan  us  syllan  tSa  ecan  myrhtSe  mid  him  . 

Gif  tSonne  ])a  heafod-menn  .  and  tSa  gehadodan  lareowas 

Jjyses  ne  gymatS  .  ac  ]?encatS  embe  woruld-Jsincg  .  140 

and  godes  beboda  ne  his  biggencga  ne  gymatS  . 

Jjonne  wile  god  geswutelian  his  forsewennysse  on  him  . 

otStSe  mid  hungre  o]?}5e  mid  cwealme  .  pcp-t  hi  tocnawan  magon 

pcet  se  selmihtiga  wealdend  wrycS  his  forsewennysse  swd .        144 

and  hi  tSser-to-ecan  sceolan  on  Jjam  ojjrum  life  J?rowian 

lange  otSjse  sefre  for  heora  lifes  gymeleaste  . 

120.  W.  wifmenn;  D.  wifinann.  W.  128.  D.  })isre.  W.  heel.  W.  wltan. 
F.  buton.  F.  sidefullnysse  ;  D.  syde-  1 29,  D.  witena  ma.  W.  brMnysse  ; 
fulnesse.  D.  bradenesse. 

121.  F.  ne  (is<  time).     W.D.  leas.  130.  F.  faer'S.     W.D.F.  )7earfe. 

122.  ¥.ii6  {1st  time).  W.D.  mann.  131.  D.  beoS,  F.  wlta.  F.  se  Se. 
W.  sceandlice.     W.F.  flitan.  F.  unrihtlice  (for  unwislice). 

123.  D.  bee's.     W.  mddig.  132.  F.  sot. 

124.  D.  beoS.     F.  se  cyning.  133.  W.  gehadodan.     W.F.  Jjeow- 

125.  F.  hit  bit$.      W.D.  deriendlic.  d(5m. 

D.  gemeleas.  134.  W.D.  gesettum  ;  F.  asettan. 

126.  D.  beoS.      F.  pcEt  pcet.  W.  135.  D.  om.  and.     W.  laewedan. 
buton.     W.F.  steore  ;  D.  st^ore.                    136.  F.  gewisson;  D.  wissan. 

127.  W.  buton.     D.  se.  137.  D.  gesundfulnesse.  W.D.F.  i3s. 


XIII.    THE   PRAYER   OF   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  293 

nor  women  be  without  modesty,  120 

nor  the  lord  be  false  in  words, 

nor  must  any  Christian  man  shamefully  strive. 

Again,  it  is  very  contrary  that  the  poor  be  proud, 

and  it  is  odious  that  a  king  be  unrighteous;  124 

also  it  is  very  hurtful  that  a  bishop  be  careless, 

and  it  is  unprofitable  that  the  folk  be  without  a  governor, 

or  without  law,  for  the  harm  of  them  all. 

It  is  for  this  world's  safety  that  it  have  wise  men,  128 

and  however  many  more  there  are  of  wise   men  on  the  earth's 

surface, 
so  much  the  better  will  it  fare  with  the  people's  needs. 
He  is  no  wise  man  who  liveth  unwisely, 

but  such  an  one  is  an  open  sot,  though  it  seem  not  so  to  himself. 
If  cowl-wearing  men  observe  God's  service 
at  set  times,  and  live  soberly, 
and  if  the  laity  live  according  to  right, 

then  know  we  for  certain  that  God  will  provide  136 

for  our  prosperity,  and  peace  among  us, 

and,  in  addition  thereto,  give  us  the  eternal  mirth  with  Him. 
If  then  the  head-men,  and  the  cowl-wearing  teachers, 
will  not  take  care  for  this,  but  think  of  worldly  things,         140 
and  care  neither  for  God's  commands,  nor  for  His  worship, 
then  will  God  manifest  in  them  (their)  contempt  of  Him, 
either  by  hunger  or  by  pestilence,  that  they  may  acknowledge 
that  the  Almighty  Ruler  thus  wreaketh  contempt  of  Himself;   144 
and  they,  in  addition,  shall  suffer  in  the  other  life, 
either  for  a  long  time  or  for  ever,  for  their  life's  carelessness. 

138.    F.    J)8erto-dcan ;     D.    paerto-  after  hungre.     D.F.  hi.     W.  tocn^w- 

ecean.     D.  sellan.   W.D.  ecean.     D.  an, 

myrgjje,  144.  D.  f orsifiwennesse ;  W.  sewen- 

X39.  W.  gehModan.  nysse.  D.F.  swa. 

140.  D.  gematS;  W.  gyma'S,   W.D.           145.  F.  ^acan;  W.  eacan;  D.  ecan, 
J)encea8.    W.D.  ])ing.  cor.  to  eacan.     W.F.D.  sceolon.     W. 

141.  F.  bebodu.     W.  bfgenga  ;  D.  life. 

bigenga.     W.  gyma^  ;  D.  geiuaS.  1 46.   W.  hyra ;  D.  hira.     D.  geme- 

142.  W.  sewennysse ;  D.  forsewen-  leaste.      F.  ins.   a  gloss  on   I.    147, 
nesae.  viz. —  Vel  We  gehyrdon  oft  secgan  bu 

143.  F.   ins.   oSSe   mid    hergunge  wel  hit  ferde  on  piaum  earde. 


294  XIII.     DE   ORATIONE  MOYSI. 

"Wei  we  magon  geSencan  hu  wel  hit  ferde  mid  (is  . 

]3at5a  Ipis  igland  wses  wunigende  on  sibbe  .  148 

and  munuc-lif  wseron  mid  wur'S-scipe  gehealdene  . 

and  ?5a  woruld-menn  wseron  wsere  wiS  heora  fynd  . 

Bwa  Tpcet  ure  word  sprang  wide  geond  pas  eortSan  . 

Hu  wees  hit  (5a  sicS^an  '5a  |?a  man  towearp  munuc-lif .  152 

and  godes  biggengas  to  bysmore  hsefde  . 

buton  \>cet  us  com  to  cwealm  and  hunger  . 

and  si?5t5an  hsetSen  here  us  beefde  to  bysmre  . 

Be  ]5ysum  cwsetS  se  selmihtiga  god  .  to  moyse  on  J?am  wsestene  .  156 

Gif  ge  on  minum  bebodum  faratS  .  and  mine  behoMa  healdacS  . 

ponne  sende  ic  eow  ren-scuras  on  rihtne  timan  symble  . 

and  seo  eorSe  spryt  hyre  waestmas  eow  . 

and  ic  forgife  sibbe  and  gesehtnysse  eow  .  160 

pcet  ge  butan  ogan  eowres  eardes  brucan  . 

and  ic  eac  afyrsige  'Sa  yfelan  deor  eow  fram  . 

Gif  ge  Jjonne  me  forseotS  and  mine  gesetnyssa  awurpatS  . 

ic  eac  swytSe  hrsedlice  on  eow  hit  gewrece  .  164 

ic  do  pcet  seo  heofen  bitS  swa  heard  eow  swa  isen  . 

and  seo  eortSe  J3aer-to-geanes  swylce  heo  eeren  sy  . 

ponne  swince  ge  on  idel  .  gif  ge  sawacS  eower  land 

tSonne  seo  eortSe  ne  spryt  eow  nsenne  wsestra  .  168 

And  gif  ge  |3onne  git  nellatS  eow  wendan  to  me  . 

ic  sende  eow  swurd  to  and  eow  sleatS  eowre  fynd  . 

and  hi  Jjonne  awestatS  waelhreowlice  eower  land  . 

and  eowre  burga  beotS  to-brocene  and  aweste  .  173 

Ic  asende  eac  yrhtSe  Into  eowrum  heortum  . 

Ipcet  eower  nan  ne  dear  eowrum  feondum  witS-standan  . 

147.  W.D.  gejjencean.      W.  f^rde.       D.  bismsere;  F.  bismere. 

D.  us.  154.  W.  lis  com.     W.D.  hungor. 

148.  W.F.fgland;  D.egland.  W.D.  155.  W.  ds.    W.  bysmore;  F.  bys- 
wuniende.                                                       mere  ;  D.  bismore. 

149.  W.D.  munuc-lifa.  156.  W.D.F.  swilcum  (/or  pysum). 

150.  D.  ware.     D.  feond.  F.D.  westene. 

151.  W.  sw^.     W.  wide.  157.  F.  bebodu  (for  beboda). 

152.  W.F.om.hit,  which  is  supplied  158.  D.    renscuras.      W.F.   tIman 
in  a  later  hand  in  A.  W.F.  })a  munuc-  symle.     D.  simle. 

llf.  ^  159.  W.D.  spry tt.  D.forS  (/or eow). 

153.  W.   bigengas;    D.   bigfengas.  160.  Y .  om.  the  line.    D.  sehtnesse. 

1  Leaf  68. 


XIII.    THE   PRAYER  OF   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  295 

Well  may  we  tbink  how  well  it  fared  with  us 

when  this  island  was  dwelling  in  peace,  148 

and  the  monastic  orders  were  held  in  honour, 

and  the  laity  were  ready  against  their  foes, 

so  that  our  report  spread  widely  throughout  the  earth. 

How  was  it  then  afterward  when  men  rejected  monastic  life        152 

and  held  God's  services  in  contempt, 

but  that  pestilence  and  hunger  came  to  us, 

and  afterward  the  heathen  army  had  us  in  reproach  1 

Concerning  this  spake  the  Almighty  God  to  Moses  in  the  wilderness, 

'  If  ye  walk  in  my  statutes  and  keep  my  commandments, 

then  will  I  alway  send  you  rain-showers  in  due  time, 

and  the  earth  shall  yield  you  her  fruits, 

and  I  will  give  you  peace  and  reconciliation,  160 

that  ye  may  enjoy  your  land  without  fear, 

and  I  will  also  put  the  evil  beasts  far  from  you. 

If  ye  then  despise  me,  and  cast  away  my  laws, 

I  will  also  very  speedily  wreak  it  upon  you ;  164 

I  will  cause  that  the  heaven  shall  be  to  you  as  hard  as  iron, 

and  the  earth  underneath  it  as  if  it  were  brass. 

Then  shall  ye  labour  in  vain,  if  ye  sow  your  land, 

then  the  earth  shall  yield  you  no  fruits;  168 

and  if  ye  even  then  will  not  turn  to  Me, 

I  will  send  the  sword  to  you,  and  your  enemies  shall  slay  you, 

and  then  they  shall  cruelly  lay  waste  your  land, 

and  your  cities  shall  be  broken  down  and  wasted.  173 

I  will  also  send  cowardice  into  your  hearts, 

BO  that  none  of  you  dare  withstand  your  enemies." 

161.  W.F.  buton,      W.D.F.  <5gan.       above  the  line).    T).  wsesm. 

D.  eowras.     W.  brdcan.  169.  W.  git.     W.  wendan.     W.F. 

162.  W.D.  afyrsie.    W.F.  d^or.    D.       m^. 

puts  eow  before  'Sa.  170.  W.  s^nde.  D.  swdrd.  W.D.F. 

163.  D.  gesetnesse.  t<5.     W.  fynd  ;  D.  feond. 

164.  W.  ^ac.  171.  W.  aw^stalJ.       F.  welhreow- 

165.  D.  do.     W.  se.    D.F.  heofon.  lice ;   D.  wealhreowlice.     D.  eowre, 
D.  beo^.    W.D.  eow  swa  heard.    W.  cor.  to  eowere.     W.D.  Mnd. 

Isen.  1 73.   W.F.    ast^nde  ;     D.    asaende. 

166.  W.F.  aeren.     W.  si.  W.D.  ^ac.     D.  inn-to. 

167.  F.  idel.     W.l^nd.  174.  W.   nsCn.     F.  dearr.     F.  hia 

168.  W.D.  sprytt.     F.  eow  {added  {over  eowrum).     W.  wiSstiindan. 


296  XIII.    DE   ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

pus  spreec  god  gefyrn  be  fjam  folce  israhel  . 

hit  is  swa  tSeah  swa  gedon  swytSe  neah  mid  us  .  176 

nu  on  niwum  dagum  and  undigollice  . 

"We  sceolan  god  wurSian  mid  sotSre  anrsednysse 

fortSan  pe  he  is  selmihtig  god  .  and  he  us  to  menn  gesceop  . 

nu  do  w6  swytSe  wolice  gif  we  ne  wurcSiatS  hine  180 

us  syKum  to  J?earfe  .  and  urum  sawlum  to  blisse  . 

God  gewrsec  fram  frymtSe  mid  witum  his  forsewennysse  . 

serest  on  Sam  senglum  pe  unrsedhce  modegodon  . 

and  sitStSan  on  adame  pa.  pa  he  gesyngod  hsefde.  184 

Eft  on  noes  dagum  tSatSa  menn  dysgodon  to  swytSe  . 

and  mid  forligre  gegremedon  god  selmihtigne  Jsearle  . 

swa  pcet  he  sende  flod  .  and  besencte  hi  ealle 

butan  noe  anum  mid  his  agenum  hiwum  .  188 

fortSan  pe  he  ana  wses  of  him  eallum  riht-wis  . 

Eft  tSa  pa  god  wokie  wrecan  mid  fyre 

|3a  fulan  forligeras  J?3es  fracodostan  mennisces 

sodomitiscra  tSeoda  .  pa,  ssede  he  hit  abrahame  .  192 

Habraham  pa.  bsed  J)one  selmihtigan  Sus  . 

pu  drihten  pe  demst  eallum  deadlicum  flsesce  . 

ne  scealt  Su  Jsone  riht-wisan  ofslean  mid  pa,va  arleasan  . 

Gif  tSger  beotS  ^fiftig  wera  wunigende  on  j^ara  earde  .  196 

rihtwise  setforan  tSe  .  ara  him  eallum  . 

Da  cwsetS  god  him  to  eft.     Ic  arige  him  eallum 

gif  ic  tSser  finde  fiftig  riht-wisra  . 

pa  began  abraham  eft  biddan  god  georne  .  200 

pcet  he  hi  ne  fordyde  .  gif  tSser  feowertig  wseron 

175.  D.  fan.  D.  forsewennesse. 

176.  W.D.  ge-don.    W.F,  \is.  183.  W.D.F.  englum.     D.   unraed- 
177'  W.  nri.   W.F.  nlwum.    F.  un-       lice;  F.  linraedlice.     F.  mddegodon. 

digellice.  184.  W.    ad^me;    F.   iidame.      D. 

i78.W.D.F.sceolon.  D.  ani-asdnesse.       gesengod,  coj-.  fo  gesyngod. 

179.  W.D.  forjam  fe.      W.D.  om.  185.  F.  noes. 

god.    W.  lis.     D.  mannum.  186.  W.D.  forligre.     D.  gegraeme- 

180.  D.  nii  do.     W.D.F.  we.     W.       don.     D.  selmihtihne. 

W(51ice.  187.  F.  asende  flod.     D.  bessencte. 

181.  W.D.  us.    D.  selfe.    D.  sawle.  188.  W.D.F.  buton.     W.  no^ ;    F. 

182.  F,  gewraec.       W.D.F.  wltum.       nde.     W.F.  itnum ;    F.  agenum  (06- 

^  Leaf  68,  back. 


XIII.    THE   PRAYES,   OF   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  297 

Thus  spake  God,  of  old,  concerning  the  people  of  Israel ; 
it  is  nevertheless  vei-y  nigh  thus  accomplished  in  us,  176 

now  in  these  late  days,  and  notoriously. 
"We  ought  to  worship  God  with  true  constancy, 
because  He  is  Almighty  God,  and  He  created  us  to  be  men; 
now  do  we  very  wrongly  if  we  worship  Him  not  180 

for  our  own  need,  and  our  souls'  bliss. 

God  from  the  beginning  avenged  contempt  of  Himself  by  punish- 
ments, 
first  upon  the  Angels  who  rashly  exalted  themselves, 
and  afterward  on  Adam,  when  He  had  sinned.  184 

Again,  in  the  days  of  Noah,  when  men  wrought  very  foolishly, 
and  by  fornication  angered  Almighty  God  exceedingly, 
so  that  He  sent  the  Flood,  and  drowned  them  all, 
except  only  Noah  with  his  own  household,  188 

because  he  alone  of  them  all  was  righteous. 
Again  when  God  desired  to  wreak  with  fire 
the  foul  fornication  of  the  vilest  race  of  men, 
the  people  of  Sodom,  then  He  told  it  to  Abraham.  192 

Abraham  then  prayed  the  Almighty  thus ; 
"  Thou,  Lord,  who  judgest  all  mortal  flesh, 
Thou  shouldest  not  slay  the  righteous  with  the  wicked. 
If  there  be  fifty  men  dwelling  in  the  place,  196 

righteous  before  Thee,  spare  them  all." 
Then  said  God  to  him  again :  "I  will  spare  them  all, 
if  I  find  there  fifty  righteous." 

Then  began  Abraham  again  to  entreat  God  earnestly,  200 

that  He  would  not  destroy  them,  if  there  were  forty  there, 

literated).  W.  hlwum ;  D.  heowu»n.  196.  W.D.  fifti.      W.D.  wuniende. 

189.  W.D.  for  ])am  pe.     D.  heom.       D.  p&n. 

D.  rihtvvls.  197.  D.  rihtwisa.      D.  ]>6.      W.F. 

190.  W.  fyre,  jtra.     D.  heom. 

191.  W.  mian  ;  D.  fule.  D.F.  for-  198.  D.  eft  t6.     W.  ^e;   D.  arie. 
ligras.  F.  fracodestan.  D.  heom. 

192.  F.  sodotnidiscra.  199.  W.   finds.      W.D.   fifti.      D. 

193.  W.D.F.  Abrahaw.  rihtwisa. 

194.  W.  d^mst.  200.  W.  begann;  F.  began,  cor.  to 

195.  W.   ofsldan.       D.  arleasum;       begann. 

W,  arleasan.  201.  D.F.  hf.     W.  feowerti. 


298  XIII.    DE   ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

rihtwisra  wera  .  wunigende  on  tSsere  leode  . 

God  him  Sees  tijjode  .  and  he  began  git  biddan 

oZpcet  he  becom  to  tyn  mannum  .  and  him  tiSode  god  tSa  .    204 

\)cet  he  nolde  hi  fordon  .  gif  he  funde  tSser  tyn 

riht-wisra  manna  .  and  he  wende  t5a  him  fram  . 

God  sende  ?5a  sona  to  tSam  sceand-licum  mannum 

twegen  englas  on  sefen  .  and  hi  abrahames  brotJor  sunu  208 

loth  .  mid  his  hiwum  .  alseddon  of  tSeere  byrig  . 

and  'Sser  nees  na  md  Ipe  manful  nsere  gemet  . 

God  sende  Sa  fyr  on  merigen  and  fulne  swefel  him  to  . 

and  for-beernde  hi  ealle  and  heora  burga  towende  .  212 

and  ealne  }7one  eard  mid  egeslicum  fyre  . 

and  tSser  is  nu  ful  wseter  tJeer  tSa  fulan  wunodon  . 

and  loth  se  riht-wisa  weartS  ahred  tSurh  god  . 

Be  tSysum  man  mgeg  tocnawan  Tpcet  micclum  fremiatS  216 

J?am  Isewedum  mannum  .  Jja  gelseredan  godes  tSeowas. 

\)cet  hi  mid  heora  6eow-dome  him  tSingian  to  gode  . 

nu  god  wolde  arian  eallum  tSam  synfullum  . 

gif  he  J?8er  gemette  tyn  riht-wise  menn  .  220 

Eal-swa  dathdn  and  abiron  t5e  dyslice  sprsecon  . 

and  mycelne  teonan  moyse  gedydon 

ongean  godes  willan  .  tSacSa  hi  on  Jjam  westene  waeron  . 

and  forsawon  his  wisunge  and  swytSe  hine  tseldon  .  224 

God  him  wear(5  )?a  yrre  .  and  seo  eorjje  to-bserst 

Jjser'Saer  hi  wicodon  .  mid  wifum  and  mid  cyldum 

on  heora  ge-teldum  .  and  hi  ealle  tSa  suncon 

Bwa  cuce  into  Saere  eorcSan  .  of-hrorene  mid  moldan  .  228 

and  Ipcet  otSer  folc  fleah  afyrht  for  heora  hreame  . 

202.  W.D.  wuniende,     D.  J^aera.  D.  byri. 

203.  W.D.F.    geti^ode.      W.D.F.  210.  D,  n^.      F.  ins.  manna  after 
begann.     F.  Jiagyt.  md.     W.  manfull ;  F.  manful.    W.D. 

204.  W.  becdm;   F.  com.     D.  tij)-  gem^t;  F.  gemett. 

odse.     W.D.F.  )3a  god.  211.  D.  ssende.     W.F.  fyr,     W.D. 

205.  D.F.   hi.      D.   fordon.      W.      merien;  F.  m^rgen,    W.  fdlne.    W.F. 
fdnde.     D.  tien.  swefel.    W.F.  t6. 

206.  D.  rihtwisra.      F.   ins.  sona  212.  W.  hyra;  D.  heera  (sic). 
after  fSa,.  213.  W.fyre. 

207.  W.  sceandlicu.  214.  W.  mi.     W.F.D.  ftil.     W.  fu- 

208.  F.  ajfen.  Ian.     D.  wunodan. 

209.  W.  Idth;  F.  loht.  W.D.hiwujw.  215.  W.  l<5th ;  F.  loht.   W.  ahredd. 


XIII.    THE   PRAYER   OF   MOSES   (mID-LENt).  299 

righteous  men,  dwelling  among  that  people. 

God  granted  him  this,  and  he  began  yet  to  entreat, 

until  he  came  to  ten  men,  and  God  granted  him  then,  204 

that  He  would  not  destoy  them  if  He  found  there  ten 

righteous  men,  and  He  turned  from  him  therewith. 

Then  God  straightway  sent  to  those  shameful  men 

two  angels  in  the  evening,  and  they  led  Abraham's  brother's  son 

Lot,  with  his  family,  out  of  the  city; 

and  there  were  no  more  found  who  were  not  wicked. 

Then  God  sent  to  them,  in  the  morning,  fire  and  foul  brimstone, 

and  burned  them  all  up,  and  destroyed  their  cities,  212 

and  all  that  country  with  awful  fire, 

and  there  is  now  foul  water  there,  where  those  foul  men  dwelt, 

and  Lot,  the  righteous,  was  delivered  by  God. 

By  these  things  we  may  perceive  that  the  learned  216 

servants  of  God  greatly  benefit  the  laity, 

when  they,  in  their  office,  intercede  for  them  to  God, 

since  God  was  willing  to  spare  all  the  sinful, 

if  He  had  found  there  ten  righteous  men.  220 

Even  so  [was  it  with]  Dathan  and  Abiram,  who  spake  foolishly, 

and  did  great  dishonour  to  Moses, 

against  God's  will,  when  they  were  in  the  wilderness, 

and  despised  his  guidance,  and  sorely  upbraided  him;  224 

then  God  was  angry  with  them,  and  the  earth  clave  asunder 

where  they  dwelt,  with  their  wives  and  children 

within  their  tents,  and  they  then  all  sank  down, 

quick,  into  the  earth,  overwhelmed  with  mould,  338 

and  the  other  folk  fled  affrighted  at  their  cry. 

216.  W.  to-cnjtwan.    W.  micelum.  223.  W.  ong^an.     D.F.  hi. 

217.  W.  laewednm.    W.  gelaeredan.  224.  W.    forsawon.     W.  wlsunge; 
F.  Jjeowas,  alt.  to.  })eowan.                          F.  wissunge.       W.   tseldon ;   F.   ge- 

2i8,F.D.hi,  D.>^owdome,  W.D.F.  taeldon. 
J)ingion.  225.  F.  him,  cor.  <o  hiom ;  D.  heom. 

219.  W.  ^rian.     D.  J)an.  226.  D.  hi  repeated.  W.F.  wlcodon. 

220.  W.  gem^tte.  F.  tyn;  D.  teon.  W.D.  om.  2nd  mid. 

D.  rihtwisa.  227.  W.D.    hyra    getealdum.      D. 

221.  W.D.F.  Eall.     D.  swst.     W.      suncon  ])a.     F.  besuncon. 

dathan;   F.  diCthan.     F.  ^biron;   D.  228.  D.  innto.     A.  rorene,  cor.  to 

abir<5n.     W.  spracon.  hrorene.     D.  molden. 

222.  F.  t^onan.  229.  D.  o)>aer.  VV.  hyra.  F.  hr^ame. 


300  XIII.    DE   ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

Manega  of  tJam  folce  myslice  oft  ceorodon  . 
and  fandoden  godes  and  gremedon  mid  sprsecon  . 
ac  god  hit  gewrsec  sona  pcet  hi  swultan  gehu .  332 

forSan  ?Se  seo  ceorung  is  swytSe  latS  gode  . 
and  huru  pcet  mann  gremige  hine  mid  wor^dum  . 
And  gode  is  swytJe  laS  on  geleaffullum  folce  . 
pcet  hi  beon  unge'Swsere  and  Jjwyre  him  betwynan  .  236 

and  crist  cwsetS  on  his  godspelle  pcet  nan  cynerice 
ne  stent  nane  hwile  ansund  .  gif  hi  gesome  ne  beoS  . 
for-tJam  ?5e  god  lufatJ  so'Sfsest-nysse  .  and  sibbe  on  mancynne . 
Eft  dauid  se  cyning  t5eah  pe  he  gecweme  were  gode  .  240 

agylte  swycSe  Jjearle  .  and  god  him  sende  t5a  to  . 
gdd  ]?one  witegan  .  'Sas  word  him  secgende  . 
Geceos  Se  nu  an  wite  swa  swa  tSu  wyrtSe  eart  . 
o}7j?e  Sreo  ^  gear  hunger  ,  oStSe  J^ry  montSas  gewinn  .  244 

pcet  ?5u  swa  lange  fleo  fjine  fynd  gif  ?5u  mage  . 
otStJe  tSry  dagas  man-cwealm  .  pa  cwaetS  dauid  him  to  . 
Un-ea?Se  me  is  6is  .  ac  me  is  swa  tJeah  leofre 
pcet  ic   on   godes  handa  befealle  ]jonne  ic  on  mannes  handa  be- 
fealle  .  248 

fortSan  pe  his  mildheort-nyssa  syndon  msenig-fealde  . 
God  sende  tSa  sona  sumne  encgel  him  to  . 
and  se  encgel  ofsloh  hund-seofontig  'Susenda 
on  dauides  anwealde  ealle  wsepmenn  .  25  a 

pa  com  se  encgel  pssr  se  cynincg  sylf  wses  . 
and  wolde  Sa  slean  jja  ceaster-gewaran  . 
ac  gode  ofhreow  t5a  and  hratJe  cwsetS  to  tJam  engle  . 

230.  F.  mislice,  cor.  to  mistlice.   F.  F.  Tingej^wsere.    F.  betweonan. 

ceorodon.  237.  W.F.  n^n. 

331.  W.  f^ndodon ;  D.F.  fandodon.  238.  W.  hwfle.     F.  dnaund  (accent 

F.  gremedun  mid  spraecum.  by  later  hand)  ;  D.  ansund.     W.D.F. 

232.  F.  hi,  cor.  to  hit.     D.   wraec.  hi  gesdme. 

W.  sdna.     F.  ins.  swa  {by  later  hand)  239.  W.F.D.  and  (/or  for  Sam  'Se) ; 

after  sona.    F.  swultun  ;  D.  swulton.  Sam  "Se  added  above  the  line  in  A, 

F.  gehiS  obliterated.  F.  so'Snysse  ;  D.  so-Sfsestnesse. 

233-  W.  for])ani  ]>e.  240.  W.  h^   gecweme  waere.       F. 

234.  W.D.F.  man.    W.D.  gremie.  waere.     D.  gode  gecweme  wsere. 

236.  W.  un-J)wsere  him  betwynan.  241.  F.  him  god.     D.  ssende  pd. 

*  Leaf  69.  ^,ra  added  between  the  lines;  thus  altering  it  to  Sreora. 


XIII.    THE   PEAYER  OP   MOSES   (mID-LENT).  301 

Many  of  the  people  variously  murmured  often, 
and  tempted  God,  and  blasphemed  in  speech, 
but  God  wreaked  it  speedily,  so  that  they  died  somehow,       23a 
because  such  murmuring  is  very  hateful  to  God, 
and  specially  when  men  provoke  Him  by  words. 
And  it  is  very  hateful  to  God  in  the  faithful  people, 
that  they  shall  be  disagreeing,  and  perverse  among  themselves ;  236 
and  Christ  said  in  His  Gospel,  that  no  kingdom 
can  stand  anywhile  entire,  if  it  be  not  peaceable, 
because  God  loveth  integrity  and  peace  among  men. 
Again,  David  the  king,  though  He  were  pleasing  to  God,      240 
sinned  very  grievously,  and  then  God  sent  to  him 
the  prophet  Gad,  saying  these  words  to  him, 
'  Choose  thee  now  a  punishment,  since  thou  art  deserving  [of  it], 
either  three  years'  famine,  or  three  months'  war,  244 

that  thou  shalt  flee  for  so  long  from  thine  enemies,  if  thou  may, 
or  three  days'  pestilence.'     Then  said  David  to  him, 
'  This  is  hard  to  me,  but  it  is  better  for  me  nevertheless 
that  I  should  fall  into   God's   hands  rather  than  that  I  should 
fall  into  man's  hands ;  248 

because  His  mercies  are  manifold.' 
Then  God  straightway  sent  an  angel  to  him, 
and  the  angel  slew  seventy  thousand 

in  David's  dominion,  all  males.  252 

Then  came  the  angel  where  the  king  himself  was, 
and  would  have  slain  the  citizens, 
but  God  had  pity  then,  and  quickly  said  to  the  angel, 

242.  D.  gad.     W.  wdrd.  249.  W.  for]>am  J)e.     D.  mildheort- 

243.  W.  Geceos.    W.  nii.    W-D-F.       nessen. 

^n.  250.  D.  saende.  W.F.sdna.  W.D.F. 

244.  F.  has  marks  of  obliteration       engel.     W.D.  td. 

afier  Sreo.     W.D.  hungor.     D.  freo  251.    W.D.F.    engel.      F,    ofsloh. 

(twice).      D.  gewinn.  W.D.  hundseofonti. 

245.  D.  msege.  252.  F.  ^nwealde.      W.  wsepmenn. 

246.  W.  ])ry;  D.  ])reo.   F.D.  mann-  F.  waepmen  ealle. 

owealm.     F.  to.  253.     W.    cdm.      W.D.F.    engel. 

247.  D.  iin-ea'5e.    D.  ins.  J)is  before  W.D.F.  cyning. 
swa  jeah.  254.  W.D.  slean. 

248.  W.  hdnda.    D.  ic.   W.  h^nda.  255.  D.  ofhreow  J){t.    F.  ra^e. 


302  XIII.     DE   OllATlONE   MOYSI. 

gen6h  genoh  hit  is  nu  .  heald  Jjine  handa  .  256 

pa  geseah  dauid  sylf  hu  Be  encgel  sloh  \)cet  folc  . 
and  clypode  to  gode  .  and  cwsetS  mid  angsuinnysse  . 
Ic  eom  pe  tJser  syngode  .  and  ic  sylf  unrihtlice 
dyde  togeanes  tSe  .  hwset  dydon  jjas  sc6p  .  260 

ic  bidde  Ipcet  Tpu  awende  witS  min  J?ine  hand  . 
and  wi(S  minne  hired  Tpine  hat-heortnysse  . 
pa  com  gdd  se  witega  gangende  .  and  cwsetS  him  to  . 
Far  nu  and  arser  hra'Se  an  weofod  gode  .  264 

and  geolFra  tSine  \Ac  Ipcet  tJes  egsa  geswice  . 
pa  dyde  dauid  sw^  .  and  drihten  him  gemiltsode 
and  se  encgel  ne  moste  J)a  menn  ofslean  leng  . 
God  nolde  ofslean  f)one  scyldigan  dauid  268 

JjeahtSe  he  syngode  .  foreman  Ipe  he  swyc5e  oft  dyde  . 
ge  ser  ge  sitStSan  swytSe  senlice  tSincg  . 
gode  to  ge-cwemednysse  .  and  god  him  forSi  arode  . 
and  ?5a  Ipe  tSser  ofslagene  wseron  heora  sawla  wseron  gehealdene . 
Eft  wses  sum  leodscipe  jse  se  lifigenda  god 
wolde  gewitnian  ^for  heora  gewitleasum  dsedum  . 
])cet  wseron  tSa  niniuitiscan  J^e  wodlice  fserdon  . 
Da  sende  god  him  to  sumne  witegan  276 

ionas  gehaten  .  and  het  hi  geswican 
otStSe  hi  ealle  sceoldon  endemes  forwur?5an  . 
Se  cynincg  tJa  gecyrde  sona  mid  his  leode  . 
and  hi  ealle  faeston  Sry  dagas  on  in  .  and  drihten  him  gemilt- 
sode^ .  280 
Ne  mseg  nan  mann  awritan  ne  mid  wordum  areccan 

256.  F.  genoh  genoh.     F.  nu.     W.  awende.   W.D.F.  mln.    W.D.  h^nd. 
t^nda.  262.  W.D.  hired.      F.  ins.  awend 

257.  D.  om.  sylf.     D.M.     W.D.F.  after  hived.    D.  hatheortnesse. 
engel.     F.  sloh.  263,  D.  ]>d.     W.  cdm.     D.   gang- 

258.  F.  iws.  he  a/i«e9-and.     D,  cleo-  enda.    W.D.  to. 

pode.     D.  angsumnesse.  264.  F.  nu.     F.  jCn  weofed. 

259.  F.  iws.  sylf  a/i!ey  eom.    D.  self  265.  W.  geofra.     F.  lac.     F.  ^gsa. 
dyde  unrihtlice.  W.D.  geswice ;  F.  geswica. 

260.  D.  om.  dyde.  D.  \>4.  D.  dyden ;  266.  D.  dauid.    F.  swa.    W.D.  ge- 
F.  dydon  {above  the  line).  W.  jpa.  seep  ;  mildsode. 

F.  >a  seep  ;  D.  ))as  scdap.  267.  W.D.F.  engel.    W.D.  ofslean. 

261.  F.  ins.  ]>e  after  bidde.      W.  268.  W.D,  ofslean. 

'  Leaf  69,  back.  «  F.  rightly  makes  tico  lines  of  I.  280. 


XIIT.    THE   PRAYER   OF    MOSES   (mID-LENT).  303 

*  Enough,  it  is  now  enough  ;  hold  thine  hand.'  256 
Then  David  himself  saw  how  the  angel  slew  the  people, 

and  cried  to  God,  and  said  with  anguish, 

'  I  am  he  that  sinned,  and  I  myself  did  unrightly 

against  Thee ;  what  have  these  sheep  done  1  260 

I  pray  thee  that  Thou  wilt  turn  Thine  hand  against  me, 

and  Thine  indignation  against  my  house.' 

Then  came  Gad  the  prophet  walking,  and  said  to  him, 

*  Go  now,  and  rear  quickly  an  altar  to  God,  264 
and  offer  thy  sacrifice,  that  this  terror  may  cease.' 

Then  did  David  so,  and  the  Lord  had  pity  on  him, 
and  the  angel  might  no  longer  slay  the  men. 
God  would  not  slay  the  guilty  David,  268 

though  he  had  sinned,  because  very  often  he  had  done, 
both  before  and  afterward,  very  excellent  things 
to  the  satisfaction  of  God,  and  God  therefore  spared  him ; 
and  those  who  there  were  slain,  their  souls  were  preserved.  272 
Again,  there  was  a  people  whom  the  living  God 
would  punish  for  their  witless  deeds ; 
those  were  the  Ninevites,  who  acted  madly. 
Then  God  sent  to  them  a  certain  prophet,  276 

hight  Jonah,  and  bade  them  desist, 
or  they  should  all  be  destroyed  together. 
The  king  then  turned  directly  with  his  people, 
and  they  all  fasted  three  consecutive  days,  and  the  Lord  had  pity 
on  them.  280 

A  man  can  neither  write,  nor  reckon  in  words, 


269.  W.  forfam  \>e.  276.  F.  saende.     D.  heom  {om.  to). 

270.  W.F.  seiilice.     W.D.F.  ping.  277.  W.  geh^ten.    W.D.  geswfcan. 

271.  D.  gecwemednesse.    W.  for])f.  278.  F.  dndemes  forweorSan. 
W.D.  ^rode.  279.  W.D.F.  cyning.     F.  gecyrde, 

272.  D.  J)^  'p4  ]>asT.    F.  ins.  ealle  D.  ins.  tOagode  after  sona.    D.  Idode. 
after  and.     W.  hyra;   D.  hira.     F.  280.  F.  iws.  to"5amaelmihtigangode 
syndon  gehealdene  mid  gode.  before  and  hi.     W.  ))ry  ;  D.  ])reo.     D. 

273.  D.  wis.      D.  le(5dscipe.     W.  heom.    W.D.  gemildsode. 
lifiende;  D.  lyfigende.  281.  D.  miig.       W.D.   n^n.      W. 

274.  W.D.F.  gewltnian.    D.  hyra.  awrftan.     D.  wdrdum.    W.D.  arec- 

275.  W.D.F.  niniueiscan.  W.  w<5d-  cean;  F.  gereccan. 
lice  f^rdon.     D.F.  ferdon. 


304  XIII.    DE   ORATIONE   MOYSI. 

hu  oft  se  selmihtiga  god  egeslice  gewrgec 

his  foresewennysse  on  scyldigum  mannum  . 

o'S'Se  hu  oft  he  gemyltsode  man-cynne  gehti  .  284 

J)a  tJe  mid  andetnysse  heora  yfeles  geswicon  . 

We  ne  sceolan  ceorigan  ne  sorhlice  bemsenau 

Jjeah  tJe  us  ungelimp  on  sehtum  getime  . 

fortSan  J)e  seo  ceoning  is  swytSe  mycel  pleoh  .  288 

\>cet  man  wiS  god  ceorige  swa  swa  us  saede  paulus  . 

Fela  ungelimpa  beoS  on  ende  Sissere  worulde  . 

ac  ge-hwS  mot  forberan  emlice  his  dsel  . 

swa  pcEt  he  cSurh  ceorunge  ne  syngie  witS  god  .  292 

and  for  tSsere  woruld  lufe  him  wite  ge-earnige  . 

pes  tima  is   ende-next  and  ende  Jjyssere  worulde  . 

and  menn  beotS  geworhte  wolice  him  betwynan  . 

swa  pcet  se  feeder  wintS  witS  his  agenne  sunu  .  296 

and  broSor  wiS  oJ?erne  to  bealwe  him  sylfum  . 

and  mid  Sam  geeacniatS  yfelnysse  him  sylfum  . 

ge  on  tSissere  worulde  ge  on  tSaere  toweardan  .  1 

ponne  tSinctS  |jam  arleasum  swylce  hi  sefre  motan  libban  .       300 

and  ne  cunnon  tSone  cwyde  ]>e  god  cwsetS  be  swylcum  . 

Uiri  sanguinum  et  dolosi  Non  dimidiabunt  dies  suos  .  \>cet  is  on 

englisc ; 
Da  blodigan  weras  and  t5a  \>e  willatS  facn . 

ne  sceolan  hi  libban  heora  dagas  healfe  .  304 

Da  synd  blodige  weras  Se  wyrcatS  manslihtas  . 
and  tSaSe  manna  sawla  beswicatS  to  forwyrde  . 
Da  sceolan  geendian  swycSe  yfelum  deaSe  . 
gif  hi  ser  ge-endunge  heora  yfel  ne  gebetaS  .  308 

28a.  D.  egeslic  gewrsec.  287.  W.D.  Jjeah  us.    W.  ungelfmp  ; 

283.  W.  forsewennysse  ;    F.  fore-       F.  dngelim,  cor,  to  lingelimp.     W.D. 
■  s^wenysse,  cor.  to  forsewennysse  ;  D.       on  eehtam  getlmie.     F,  getlmige. 

forsewennesse.    D.  om.  on  scyldigum,  288.  W.  forjjam  ]>e.    D.  am.  swySe. 

etc.,  to  andetnysse  inc.  (1.  285).  289.  D.  ceorie.     D.  «w^  sw^.     D. 

284.  W.  gemildsode  ;  F.  miltsode.       saede. 

F.  nianncyn,  cor.  to  manncyne.  290.  W.  ungelimpa ;  D.  ungelimpse. 

285.  W.  ])am  J)e.     F.  Andetnysse.       W.  dnde. 

W.D.  hyra.     D.  yfelas.  291.  W.D.F.  m6t.     D.  Eenlice  (^for 

286.  W.D.F.  sceolon,  W.F.  eeorian;       emlice).     F.  dael. 
D.  c^orian.  F.  sorglice.  W.bemaenan.  292.  W.  sw^. 


XIII.     THE    PRAYER    OF    MOSKS    (mID-LENT).  305 

how  often  the  Almighty  God  has  awfully  wreaked 

contempt  of  Himself  upon  guilty  men, 

or  how  often  He  has  pitied  mankind  in  some  way,  284 

those  who  with  confession  ceased  fi'om  their  evil. 

We  must  not  murmur,  nor  anxiously  bemoan, 

though  mischance  befall  us  respecting  our  possessions, 

because  murmuring  is  a  very  great  danger,  288 

that  a  man  murmur  against  God,  even  as  St.  Paul  has  told  us. 

There  will  be  many  misfortunes  at  the  end  of  this  world, 

but  each   one  must  patiently  suffer  his  lot, 

so  that  he  sin  not  against  God  by  murmuring,  292 

and,  for  love  of  this  world,  merit  for  himself  punishment. 

This  time  is  the  last  time,  and  the  end  of  this  world, 

and  men  are  made  unjust  amongst  themselves, 

so  that  the  father  contendeth  with  his  own  son,  296 

and  one  brother  with  another,  to  their  own  destruction, 

and  thereby  add  iniquity  to  themselves, 

both  in  this  world  and  in  that  which  is  to  come. 

For  it  seemeth  to  the  wicked,  as  if  they  might  live  for  ever,  300 

and  they  know  not  the  saying,  which  God  saith  of  such, 

'  Viri  sanguinum  et  dolod  non  dimidiahunt  dies  suos ';  that  is  in 

English, 
'  The  bloody  men  and  those  who   choose  deceit, 
they  shall  not  live  out  half  their  days'  [Ps.  Iv.  23].  304 

They  are  bloody  men  who  commit  manslaughters, 
and  those  who  seduce  men's  souls  to  destruction. 
Such  shall  end  by  a  very  evil  death, 
if  they  do  not  amend  their  evil  before  the  end.  308 


293.  W.D.  wlte  geearnie.  300.  D.  Jjonnum.     F.  fing'S.    W.D. 

294.  VV.  tlnia.     W.  ))isre.  m6ton. 

295.  W.F.  men.      W.  wdlice.     W.  302.  W.D.F.  om.  'Sset  is  on  englisc, 
betwynan  ;  F.  betweonan.  303.  W.  wseras.     W.D.  f^cn. 

296.  D.  on  {for  wiS).     W.  &genne.  304.  W.D.F.  sceolon.     D.  hiera. 

297.  F.  bdleawe  (sic).     D.  selfum.  305.  W.D.  blodie.  D.  mannslehtas ; 

298.  W.  geeacniaS.      D.  yfelnesse.  F.  m^nslihtas. 

D.  selfum.  307.  F.  Da.     W.D.F.  sceolon. 

299.  W.  ])ysre.     W.  tdweardan ;  D.  308.  F.  air.      W.  hyra ;    D.  hera. 
towearden.  W.  geb^ta'5. 

20 


306  XIV.     NATALE    SANCTI   GEORGII,    MARTYRIS. 

And  tSeah  Jje  hi  sume  lybbon  leng  Sonne  hi  sceoldon  . 

for  godes  ge'Sylde  poet  him  ne  frema'S  naht  . 

ac  hi  ge-eacniat5  heora  wita  .  gif  hi  eer  ende  ne  cyrratS  . 

Godes  wisdom  clypatS  .  and  cwy'S  to  eallum  mannum  .  312 

mid  fsederlicre  lufe  ^}>us  fsegere  tihtende  . 

Min  beam  ne  forgit  Su  mine  beboda  and  se  . 

ac  healde  t5in  heorta  (sic)  hi  ^  geornlice  . 

hi  gelengatS  pin  lif  .  and  pu  leofast  on  sibbe  .  316 

and  mildheortnyss  and  sotSfsestnys  .  pe  sotSIice  ne  forleetatS  . 

Hafa  pe  truwa  on  god  of  ealre  tSinre  heortan  . 

and  ne  truwa  tSu  na  swySe  on  J^inre  snoternysse  . 

pane  sefre  embe  god  on  eallum  tSinum  wegum.  330 

and  he  sylf  gewissatS  wel  Jsine  fare  . 

Eadig  bits  se  man  setSe  gemet  wisdom  . 

fortSan  pe  se  wisdom  is  selra  jjone  scinende  gold  . 

and  he  ana  is  deorwurtSra  j^onne  t5a  dyran  matSmas  .  324 

Ipcet  is  se  wisdom  pcet  man  wislice  libbe  . 

and  his  dseda  gefadige  to  his  drihtnes  willan  . 

pcet  he  edlean  underfo  .  on  tSam  ecan  life 

mid  Sam  selmihtigan  gode  .  pe  on  ecnysse  rixatS.  AMEN.      328 

XIV. 

UIIII.  KALEJVDAS  MAI.     NAT^L^  SANCTI  GEORGII 

MARTYRIS. 

[CoUated  with  U.  =  MS.  Camb.  Univ.  Lib.  li.  i.  33,  p.  283.] 

GEDWOL-MEN   AWEITON    GE-DWYLD    ON   HEOBA   BOCVM  . 
BE  SAiif  halgan  were  tSe  is  gehaten  georius  . 
Nu  wille  we  eow  secgan  pcet  sotS  is  be  tSam  . 

309.  D.  laeng.  315.  W.  heald.  W.F.D.  heorte.  W. 

310.  D.  heom.  hi, 

311.  "W.  hyra.      W.D.  wlta.      W.  316.  W.  ho  {cdt.  to  he)  gelengatS. 
aer.     D.  ins.  {after  £er)  hiora,  cor.  to  W.F.  Iff. 

heora.     W.D.F.  gecyrra^.  317.  W.F.  mildheortnys  ;  D.  mild- 

312.  D.  cleopatS.      D.  cweS.  heortnesse.      F.  soSfestnyss;  D.  soS- 

313.  F.  fsegre.  faestnesse.     W.  forlseta'S. 

314.  W.D.  Mln.      D.  bedrn.  D.           318.  W.D.F.  truwan.  D.  om.?5inre. 
forget.     W.  bebdda.     D.  6.  319.  W.F.  na  to  swi'Se.  W.  snotor- 

*  Leaf  70.  *  hi  is  added  above  the  line. 


XIV.    SAINT   GEORGE,    MARTYE.  307 

And  though  some  of  them  live  longer  than  they  should, 

through  God's  patience,  it  profiteth  them  naught, 

but  they  add  to  their  punishments,  if  they  turn  not  before  the  end. 

God's  wisdom  crieth,  and  saith  to  all  men  312 

with  fatherly  love,  thus  gently  exhorting, 

'  My  son,  forget  not  thou  my  commands  and  law, 

but  keep  them  [in]  thine  heart  diligently; 

they  shall  prolong  thy  life,  and  thou  shalt  live  in  peace,        316 

and  mercy  and  truth  shall  verily  not  forsake  thee. 

Have  thou  trust  in  God  with  all  thine  heart, 

and  trust  thou  not  overmuch  in  thine  own  wisdom. 

Think  ever  about  God  in  all  thy  ways,  320 

and  He  Himself  shall  well  direct  thy  course. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom, 

because  wisdom  is  better  than  shining  gold, 

and  it  alone  is  more  precious  than  costly  treasures.  334 

This  is  wisdom,  that  a  man  live  wisely, 

and  order  his  deeds  according  to  his  Lord's  will ; 

that  he  may  receive  the  reward  in  the  eternal  life, 

with  the  Almighty  God,  who  ruleth  in  Eternity.     Amen.       328 


XIV. 

APRIL  23.  SAINT  GEOEGE,  MARTYR. 

Heretics  have  written  falsehoods  in  their  books 

about  the  holy  man  who  is  called  George. 

Now  will  we  tell  you  that  which  is  true  about  him, 

nysse;  D.  snotomesse.  326.  W.  daeda  gefadie. 

320.  W.  ]>4iic.    D.  ymbe.  327.  W.F.  underfd.     W,  life. 

321.  D.  self.     D.  farse.  328.  F.   mid  ])am   J)e   leofat?   and 

322.  W.F.  mann.     W.  gem^t.     F.  rixaS  d  buton  aende,  ame7i  (in  later 
wfsdom.  hand,  the  orig.  MS.  ending  with  life 

323.  W.  for])am  pe.      F.  wisdom.  (J.  327).     D.  om  I.  328. 

W.F.  sdlra  bonne.     T>.  selre.  m./7„     ^-^    „,rTT    tt   /      „»,^       n 

324.  W.F.  ^na.     D.deora.  viAt'T^  /   ll'^S^     *        ' 

•'^J    „    .  X.  >j,      7-  -nr  NATALE,  U.  has  PAS8I0. 

325.  F.  ins.  se  above  the  line.     W.  ^    tt  n^A^^^^^^^ 

■  j^        T\  xxT     t  1'  I.   U.  Uedwolmemi. 

wisdom.     D.  mann.     W.  wlslice. 

20—2 


308  XIV.    NATALE   SANCTI    GEORGII,    MARTYRIS. 

Ipcet  heora  gedwyld  ne  derige  digellice  senigum  .  4 

Se  halga  georius  wses  on  hsej^enum  dagum 

rice  ealdor-man  .  under  Sam  rej^an  casere 

pe  wses  datianus  geciged  .  on  ©sere  scire  cappadocia  . 

pa  het  datianus  'Sa  hsecSenan  ge-gaderian  8 

to  his  deofol-gildum  his  drihtne  on  teonan  . 

and  mid  manegum  c5eowracum  Ipcet  mancynn  geegsode  . 

])cet  hi  heora  lac  ge-offrodon  |3am  leasum  godum  mid  him  . 

pa  geseah  se  halga  wer  fisera  hsetSenra  gedwyld  12 

hu  hi  Sam  deoflum  onssegdon  and  heora  drihten  forsawon  . 

tSa  aspende  he  his  feoh  unforh  (sic)  on  selmyssum 

hafen-leasum  mannum  }jam  hselende  to  lofe  . 

and  wear (5  ]3urh  crist  gebyld  .  and  cwsecS  to  t5am  casere  .        16 

Omnes  dii  gentium  demonia  .  dominus  autem  caelos  fecit  . 

Ealle  Jjsera  hsetSenra  godas  synd  gramlice  deofla  . 

and  ure  drihten  soSlice  geworhte  heofonas  . 

pine  godas  casere  syndon  gyldene  .  and  sylfrene  .  20 

stsenene  .  and  treowene  .  getreow-leasera  manna  hand-ge-weorc  . 

and  g6  him  weardas  settatS  Ipe  hi  bewaciatS  wiS  J)eofas  . 

Hwset  Jja  datianus  deo^follice  geyrsode 

ongean  Sone  halgan  wer  .  and  het  hine  secgan  24 

of  hwilcere  byrig  he  wsere  .  otStSe  hwset  his  nama  wsere  . 

pa  andwyrde  georius  Sam  arleasan  and  cwseS  . 

Ic  eom  soSlice'cristen  and  ic  criste  ]?eowige  , 

Georius  ic  eom  gehaten  .  and  ic  hsebbe  ealdor-dom  28 

on  minum  earde  .  Se  is  gehaten  cappadocia  . 

and  me  bet  licaS  to  forlsetenne  nu 

Jjisne  hwilwendlican  wurSmynt  .  and  j^ses  wuldor-fullan  godes 

cyne-dome  gehyrsumian  on  haligre  drohtnunge  .  32 

pa  cwseS  datianus  .  |?u  dwelast  geori  . 

genealsec  nu  serest  and  geoffra  j^ine  lac 

4.  U.  derie.  13.  U.  on-ssegdan. 

7.  U.  datianws,  fen'  pe  wses  datia-  14.  U.  un-forht. 

nus  geciged.     U.  capadocia.  17.  JJ.deraomsb;  otnitled  and  added 

10.  U.  mancyn.  in  margin. 

11.  U.  1^.  18.  U.  syndon.     U.  deoflu. 

*  Leaf  70,  back. 


XIV.    SAINT   GEORGE,  MARTYR.  309 

that  their  error  may  not  secretly  harm  any  one-  4 

The  holy  George  was  in  heathen  days 

a  rich  noble  under  the  cruel  emperor, 

who  was  called  Datian,  in  the  province  Cappadocia. 

Then  Datian  bade  men  gather  the  heathen  8 

to  his  devil-worship,  as  an  insult  to  his  Lord, 

and,  with  many  threats,  frightened  the  people 

so  that  they  offered  their  saci'ifices  to  the  false  gods  with  him. 

When  the  holy  man  saw  the  error  of  the  heathen,  12 

how  they  sacrificed  to  the  devils,  and  dishonoured  their  Lord, 

then  he  distributed  his  property  fearlessly  in  alms 

to  poor  men,  to  the  Saviour's  praise, 

and  became  emboldened  through  Christ,  and  said  to  the  emperor,  16 

'  Onines  dii  gentium  demonia,  dominus  autem  caelos  fecit,' 

'All  the  gods  of  the  heathen  are  cruel  devils, 

and  our  Lord  verily  wrought  the  Heavens '  [Ps.  xcvi.  5]. 

Thy  gods,  Emperor,  are  golden  and  silvern,  20 

stone  and  wooden,  the  handiwork  of  unbelieving  men, 

and  ye  set  guards  over  them  to  watch  them  against  thieves.' 

So  then  Datian  became  fiendishly  angered 

against  the  holy  man,  and  bade  him  say  24 

of  what  city  he  was,  and  what  was  his  name. 

Then  George  answered  that  impious  man,  and  said, 

'  I  am  verily  a  Christian,  and  I  serve  Christ, 

*'  George "  I  am  called,  and  I  hold  authority  28 

in  my  country,  which  is  called  Cappadocia, 

and  it  liketh  me  better  to  forego  now 

this  transitory  honour,  and  to  minister  to  the  kingdom 

of  the  glorious  God  in  holy  service,'  32 

Then  said  Datian,  '  Thou  errest,  George, 

Approach  now  first  [of  all],  and  offer  thy  sacrifice 

21.  U.   staene   "j    treowe  getreow-  27.  U.  J)eowie. 
leasra.  28.  U.  habbe. 

22.  U.  ge.    U.  hi.  29.  U.  gearde.    TJ.  capadocia. 

23.  U.  deoflice.  31.  U.  wuldorfyllan. 

24.  U.  ongen.     U.  segan,  33.  U.  georius. 

25.  U.  wabre.  34.  TJ.  genealsec.     U.  1^. 


310  XIV.    NATALE   SANCTI   GEORGII,   MARTYRIS. 

pam  unofer-swiSendura  {sic)  apoUine  .  se(5e  so)?] ice  mseg 

Jjinre  nytennysse  gemiltsian  .  and  to  his  raanrsedene  gebigan  .      36 

Georius  })a  befran  Jjone  feondlican  casere  . 

hwge'Ser  is  to  lufigenne  .  oSSe  hwam  lac  to  offrigenne  . 

?Sam  hselende  criste  ealra  wonildra  alysend  1 

dplpe  apoUine  ealra  deofla  ealdre  .  40 

Hwset  Sa  datianus  mid  deofollicum  graman 

het  'Sone  halgan  wer  on  hencgene  ahaebban  . 

and  mid  isenuwi  clawum  clifrian  his  lima  . 

and  ontendan  blysan  set  bam  his  sidum  .  44 

het  hine  ]?a  si?5San  of  "Ssere  ceastre  alsedan 

and  mid  swinglura  J^reagen  and  mid  sealte  gnidan  . 

ac  se  halga  wer  wunode  unge-derod  . 

pa  het  se  casere  hine  on  cwearterne  don  .  48 

and  het  geaxian  ofer  eall  sumne  seltsewne  dry  . 

pa  ge-axode  Ipcet  athanasius  se  dry  . 

and  com  to  (Sam  casere  .  and  hine  caflice  befrdn  . 

hwi  hete  ?Su  me  feccan  Ipna  fserlice  to  J>e  ?  5  a 

Datianus  andwyrde  athanasie  Sus  . 

Miht  pvi  adwsescan  Jsaera  cristenra  drycrgeft  . 

pa  andwyrde  se  dry  .  datiane  Sus  . 

Hat  cuman  to  me  J?one  cristenan  mann  .    -  56 

and  beo  ic  scyldig  gif  ic  his  scyncraeft  ne  maeg 

mid  ealle  adwsescan  mid  minum  drycrsefte  . 

pa  fsegnode  datianus  pcet  he  funde  svvylcne  dry  . 

and  het  of  cwearterne  Isedan  Sone  godes  cempan  .  60 

and  cwseS  to  tSam  halgan  mid  hetelicum  mode  . 

For  tSe  geori  ic  begeat  Jjisne  dry  . 

oferswy'S  his  drycrgeft  ocSSe  he  J^e  oferswytSe  . 

oS^e  he  ford6  pe  ^  oStSe  Ipn  fordo  hine  .  64 

Georius  tSa  beheold  ]3one  hseSenan  dry  . 

and  cwseS  pcet  he  ge-sawe  cristes  gife  on  him  . 

38.  U.  hw^^er,     U.  1^.  44.  U.  blasan.     U.  sidan. 

39.  U.  worulda  aiusend.  45.  JJ.insert'iheforehet.'O.alxd&n. 

41.  U.  deoflicuj'Ai.  46.  U.  Jjreagan.     U.  sealtan. 

42.  U.  hengene  ahebban.  48.  U.  cweartern. 

*  Leaf  71. 


XIV.     SAINT  GEORGE,   MARTYR.  311 

to  the  unconquered  Apollo,  he  who  may  verily 

have  pity  on  thy  ignorance,  and  turn  thee  to  his  homage.'      36 

George  then  interrogated  the  fiendlike  emperor ; 

'Which  is  to  be  loved,  or  to  whom  is  sacrifice  to  be  offered, 

to  Jesus  Christ,  the  redeemer  of  all  worlds, 

or  to  Apollo,  chief  of  all  devils  1 '  40 

Thereupon  Datian,  with  devilish  anger, 

commanded  the  holy  man  to  be  hung  up  on  a  gibbet, 

and  his  limbs  to  be  torn  with  iron  claws, 

and  torches  to  be  kindled  on  both  sides  of  him ;  44 

after  that,  he  commanded  him  to  be  led  out  of  the  city, 

and  to  be  tortured  with  scourges,  and  rubbed  with  salt; 

but  the  holy  man  remained  unhurt. 

Then  the  emperor  ordered  him  to  be  put  in  prison,  48 

and  bade  enquire  everywhere  for  some  noted  sorcerer. 

Then  Athanasius  the  sorcerer  heard  of  the  matter, 

and  came  to  the  emperor,  and  asked  him  boldly, 

'Why  badest  thou  fetch  me  thus  suddenly  to  thee?'  52 

Datian  answered  Athanasius  thus, 

'  Canst  thou  extinguish  the  Christian's  sorcery  ]' 

Then  the  sorcerer  answered  Datian  thus. 

'Bid  the  Christian  man  come  to  me,  56 

and  may  I  be  guilty  if  I  cannot 

totally  extinguish  his  magic  by  my  sorcery.' 

Then  rejoiced  Datian  that  he  had  found  such  a  sorcerer, 

and  bade  bring  God's  champion  out  of  prison,  60 

and  said  to  the  saint,  with  fierce  anger, 

'  For  thee,  George,  I  have  procured  this  magician ; 

overcome  his  magic,  or  let  him  overcome  thee, 

either  let  him  undo  thee,  or  do  thou  undo  him.'  64 

George  then  looked  upon  the  heathen  magician, 

and  said  that  he  perceived  Christ's  grace  in  him. 

49.  U.  dry.  56.  TJ.  man. 

51.  U.  befran.  67-  U.  ic  beo.     U.  scfn-crseft. 

52.  U.  hwl  h^te.     U.  fffiriice.  61.  U.  hdtelicum. 

53.  U.  andwurde,  62.  U.  g^ori, 
55.  U.  andwyrdae.  64.  U.  >«  fordo. 


312      XIV.  NATALE  SANCTI  GEORGII,  MARTYRIS. 

Athanasius  'Sa  ardlice  genam 

senne  mycelne  bollan  .  mid  bealuwe  afylled  68 

and  deoflum  betsehte  tSone  drenc  ealne  . 

and  sealde  him  drincan  ac  hit  him  ne  derode  .    , 

pa  cwsecS  eft  se  dry  .  Git  ic  do  an  ]?incg  , 

and  gif  him  pcBt  ne  deratS  .  Ic  huge  to  criste  .  72 

He  genam  (5a  ane  cuppan  mid  cwealm-beruw  drence  . 

and  clypode  swySe  to  sweartum  deoflum  . 

and  to  Sam  fyrmestum  deoflum  .  and  to  tSam  ful  strangum  , 

and  on  heora  naman  begol  Jjone  gramlican  drenc  .  76 

sealde  tSa  drincan  J^am  drihtnes  halgan  . 

ac  him  naht  ne  derode  se  deofollica  wseta  . 

Da  geseah  se  dry  pcet  he  him  derian  ne  mihte  . 

and  feol  to  his  fotum  fulluhtes  biddende  .  80 

and  se  halga  georius  bine  sona  gefullode  . 

Hwset  Sa  datianus  deoflice  wearS  gram  . 

and  bet  geniman  Jsone  dry  pe  J)aer  gelyfde  on  god  . 

and  Isedan  of  tSsere  byrig  and  beheafdian  sona  .  84 

Eft  on  }?am  o]7rum  dsege  bet  se  arleasa  casere 

gebindan  georium  on  anum  bradum  hweowle  . 

and  twa  scearpe  swurd  settan  him  to-geanes  . 

and  swa  up  ateon  and  under-bsec  sceofan  .  88 

pa  gebsed  georfus  bine  bealdlice  to  gode  . 

Deus  in  adiutorium  meum  intende   Aomine   ad  adiuuandum  me 

festina  . 
God  beseoh  'Su  on  minum  fultume  .  drihten  efst  Tpn  nu  me  to 

fultumigenne  .;' 
and  he  weartS  ]?a  gebroht  mid  Jjysum  gebaede  on  J)am  hweowle  .   92 
pa  tyrndon  pa,  hsecSenan  hetelice  pcet  hweowl  . 
ac  hit  sona  tobserst  and  beah  to  eortSan  . 
and  se  halga  wer  wunode  ungederod  . 
Datianus  pa  dreorig  weartJ  on  mode  .  96 

67.  U.  heardlice.  74.  U.  inserts  Jam  after  to. 

68.  U.  afuUed.  75.  U.  full. 

69.  U.  deoflan.  76.  U.  begdl. 

71.  U.  dry.     U.  do.     U.  >ing.  78.  U.  deoflica  waeta. 

73.  U.  cwealmbaerujft  drsBnce.  80.  U.  feoll.     U.  fuluhtes. 


XIV.     SAINT   GEORGE,    MARTYR.  313 

Atbanasius  then  speedily  took 

a  great  bowl,  filled  with  a  noxious  draught,  68 

and  dedicated  all  that  drink  to  the  devils, 

and  gave  it  him  to  drink,  but  it  hurt  him  not. 

Then  said  again  the  magician,  '  Yet  one  thing  will  I  do, 

and  if  that  hurt  him  not,  I  will  submit  to  Christ.'  73 

He  took  then  a  cup,  with  a  death-bearing  drink, 

and  cried  aloud  to  the  black  devils, 

and  to  the  foremost  devils,  and  to  the  most  powerful, 

and  in  their  names  enchanted  the  fearful  drink,  76 

and  gave  it  to  the  Lord's  saint  to  drink  ; 

but  the  fiendish  liquor  harmed  him  not  a  whit. 

Then  the  sorcerer  saw  that  he  could  not  hurt  him, 

and  fell  at  his  feet,  praying  for  baptism ;  80 

and  the  holy  George  straightway  baptised  him. 

Then  Datian  became  fiendishly  angry, 

and  bade  seize  on  the  sorcerer,  who  had  there  believed  in  God, 

and  bring  him  out  of  the  city,  and  instantly  behead  him.         84 

Again  on  the  second  day  the  wicked  emperor  commanded 

George  to  be  bound  on  a  broad  wheel, 

and  two  sharp  swords  to  be  set  against  him, 

and  so  to  be  drawn  up,  and  shoved  backwards.  88 

Then  George  commended  himself  boldly  to  God ; 

'■Beus   in   adiutorium  meum  intende ;   domine,   ad   adiuuandum 

me  festina.' 
'Give   heed,  O    God,  to    deliver  me,   make   haste   now  to   help 

me,  0  Lord'  [Ps.  Ixx.  i]. 
and  he  was  then  brought  with  this  prayer  to  the  wheel.  92 

Then  the  heathen  men  turned  the  wheel  savagely, 
but  it  instantly  burst  asunder,  and  bent  to  the  earth, 
and  the  holy  man  remained  uninjured. 
Datian  then  became  sad  in  his  mind,  96 

83.  U.  geniman.     U.  dry.  92.  U.  om.  J)a.      U.  gebede.      U. 

88.  U.  upp.  hw^owle. 

91.  TJ.  inserts '^th  before  GoA.  U.  93.  U.  hdtelice.     TJ.  hweowol. 

om.  nu. 


314  XIV.     NATALE   SANCTI   GEORGII,   MARTYRIS. 

and  swor  t5urh  tJa  sunnan  .  and  tJurh  ealle  his  godas 

Ipcet  he  mid  mislicum  witum  hine  wolde  fordon  . 

Da  cwsecS  se  eadiga  georius  him  to  . 

pine  ?5eow-racan  synd  hwilwendlice  .  loo 

ac  ic  ne  forhtige  for  tSinum  gebeote  . 

J?u  hsefst  minne  lichaman  on  Sinum  anwealde  . 

ac  Su  nsefst  swa  Ipeah  mine  sawle  .  ac  god  . 

pa  het  se  casere  his  cwelleras  feccan  lo^ 

senne  serene  hwer  ,  and  hine  eaPne  afyllan 

mid  weallendum  leade  .  and  lecgan  georium 

innon  ?Sone  hwser  .  JjatJa  he  hattost  wses  . 

pa  ahof  se  halga  to  heofonnm  his  eagan  .  io8 

his  drihten  biddende  and  bealdlice  cwetJende  . 

Ic  gange  into  Ipe  on  mines  drihtnes  naman  . 

and  ic  hopige  on  drihten  Ipcet  he  me  ungederodne 

of  tSisum  weallendum  hwere  wylle  nu  ahreddan  .  112 

Ipam  is  lof  .  and  wuldor  .  geond  ealle  woruld  . 

And  he  bletsode  pcet  lead  and  Iseg  him  onuppan  . 

and  Ipcet  lead  wearS  acolod  puxh.  godes  mihte  . 

and  georius  sset  gesund  on  c5am  hwere  .  ir6 

Da  cwsetS  se  casere  to  |?ara  cristes  }?egene  , 

Nast  |3U  la  geori  Tpcet  ure  godas  swincat5  mid  ]je  . 

and  git  hi  synd  gej)yldige  Ipcet  hi  pe  miltsion  . 

Nu  Isere  ic  t5e  swa  swa  leofne  sunu  .  120 

])CBt  ?Su  Jjsera  cristenra  lare  forlsete  mid  ealle  . 

and  to  minuw  rsede  hratSe  gebuge  . 

swa  pcet  tSu  offrige  J?am  arwurtSan  appolline  . 

and  Ipn  mycelne  wur'Smynt  miht  swa  begitan  .  124 

pa  se  halga  martyr  mid  tJam  halgan  gaste  afylled  . 

smearcode  mid  mu'Se  and  to  t5am  manfullan  cwEetS  . 

TJs  gedafenatS  to  ofFrigenne  |5am  undeadlicum  gode  . 

98.  U.  fordon.  no.  U.  godes  (for  drihtnes). 

99.  IT.  ediga.  in.  U.  h^. 

102.  U.  haefest.  112.  U.  hwere.     U.  ow.  nu. 

105.  U.  serenne.    U.  afullan.  113.  U.  worold. 

107.  U.  innan.  U.  hwer.  IT.  hatost.  114.  U.h6. 

'  Leaf  71,  back. 


XIV.  SAINT  GEORGE,  MARTYR.  315 

and  swore  by  the  sun,  and  by  all  his  gods, 

that  he  would  destroy  him  by  divers  torments. 

Then  said  the  blessed  George  to  him, 

'Thy  tortures  are  transitory,  loo 

but  I  fear  not  for  thy  threatening; 

thou  hast  my  body  in  thy  power, 

but  nevertheless  not  thou  hast,  but  God  (has)  my  soul.' 

Then  the  emperor  bade  his  torturers  fetch  104 

a  brazen  caldron,  and  fill  it  full 

with  boiling  lead,  and  lay  George 

within  the  caldron,  when  it  was  hottest. 

Then  the  saint  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  108 

praying  to  his  Lord,  and  saying  boldly, 

'  I  go  into  thee  in  my  Lord's  name, 

and  I  hope  in  the  Lord  that  He  will  now  deliver  me 

unhurt  out  of  this  boiling  caldron,  112 

to  whom  is  praise  and  glory  throughout  all  the  world.' 

And  he  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  the  caldron,  and  laid 

himself  upon  it, 
and  the  lead  was  cooled  by  God's  might, 

and  George  sat  sound  in  the  caldi*on.  n6 

Then  said  the  emperor  to  Christ's  servant, 

*  Knowest  thou  not,  0  George,  that  our  gods  are  striving  with  thee, 
and  even  yet  they  are  patient,  that  they  may  pity  thee ; 
now  I  exhort  thee,  as  a  beloved  son,  120 

that  thou  altogether  quit  the  Christians'  doctrine, 
and  quickly  incline  to  my  counsel, 
so  that  thou  sacrifice  to  the  venerable  Apollo, 
and  thou  mayest  so  obtain  great  honour.'  124 

Then  the  holy  martyr,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
smiled  with  his  mouth,  and  said  to  the  wicked  man, 
'  It  befitteth  us  to  sacrifice  to  the  immortal  God.' 

115.  U.  cristes  {for  godes).  124.  U.  miht  tnicelne  wurSmunt. 

116.  U.  hw^re.  125.  U.  afulled. 

118.  U.  gedrijts.  126.  U.  smercode. 

119.  U.  hi  sund.     U.  miltsian.  127.  U.  ofl&nenne. 

120.  U.  l^ofhe. 


316  XIV.    NATALE   SANCTI   GEORGII,    MARTYRIS. 

^fter  ?5isum  bebead  se  ablenda  datianus  .  laS 

\)cet  mann  his  deadan  godas  deorwur'Slice  frsetewode  . 

and  pcet  deofles  tempi  mid  deorwur'San  seolfre  . 

and  het  j^ider  Isedan  J)one  geleaffullan  martyr  . 

wende  pcet  he  wolde  wurSian  his  godas  .  132 

and  his  lac  geofFrian  'Sam  lif-leasum  godum  . 

Hwset  Sa  georius  to  eorSan  abeah 

J?us  biddende  his  drihten  gebigedum  cneowiim  . 

Gehyr  nu  god  selmihtig  Jjines  'Seowan  bene  .  136 

and  P&8  earman  anlicnyssa  mid  ealle  fordo  . 

swa  swa  wex  formylt  for  hatan  fyre  . 

poet  menn  tSe  oncnawan  and  on  tSe  gelyfan  . 

pcet  J?u  eart  ana  god  selmihtig  scyppend  .  140 

Miter  cSisum  gebede  bserst  ut  of  heofonum 

swy?Se  fserlic  fyr  .  and  forbernde  pcet  tempi  . 

and  ealle  Sa  godas  grundlunga  suncon 

into  ]?sere  eor'San  .  and  ne  seteowdon  siStSan  .  144 

Eac  swylce  Ipsi  sacerdas  suncon  forcS  mid  . 

and  sume  ta  hsetenan  pe  peer  geheude  stodon  . 

and  georius  axode  Jjone  arleasan  casere  . 

On  hwilcum  godum  tihst  pn  ^us  to  gelyfenne?  148 

Hu  magon  hi  ahreddan  tSe  fram  frecednyssum  . 

]3onne  hi  ne  mihton  hi  sylfe  ahreddan  . 

Hwset  'Sa  datianus  gedihte  )?isne  cwyde  . 

and  het  'Sus  acwellan  ]?one  godes  cempan  .  153 

Nima(5  Jsisne  scyldigan  pe  mid  scincrsefte 

towende  ure  arwurcSan  godas  mid  ealle  to  duste  . 

and  dragaS  hine  niwelne  his  neb  to  eorSan 

geond  ealle  ?Sas  strset  and  stsenene  wegas  .  156 

and  ofsleacS  hine  sy]?]?an  mid  swurdes  ecge  . 

pa  tugon  ]5a  hseSenan  J^one  halgan  wer 

swa  datianus  him  gediht  hsefde  . 

128.  U.  ablenda.  um). 

129.  U.  man.     U.  deorwyr^lice.  135.  U.  gebigdii7ra. 

130.  U.  deorwurSum.  138.  U.  weax. 

133.  U.  l^c.    U.  stanuwi  (/or  god-  139.  U.  men,     U.  gelufon. 

'  Leaf  72. 


XIV.  SAINT  GEORGE,  MARTYR.  317 

After  this  the  blinded  Datian  commanded  128 

to  adorn  his  dead  gods  magnificently, 

and  the  devil's  temple  with  precious  silver; 

and  bade  bring  thither  the  faithful  martyr, 

weening  that  he  would  worship  his  gods,  132 

and  offer  his  sacrifice  to  the  lifeless  gods. 

Then  George  bowed  down  to  the  earth, 

thus  praying  his  Lord  with  bended  knees, 

'  Hear  now,  God  Almighty,  thy  servant's  prayer,  136 

and  utterly  destroy  these  miserable  images, 

even  as  wax  melteth  at  a  hot  fire, 

that  men  may  know  Thee,  and  believe  in  Thee, 

that  Thou  only  art  God,  Almighty  Creator.'  140 

After  this  prayer,  a  very  sudden  fire  burst  out 

from  Heaven,  and  burned  up  the  temple, 

and  all  the  gods  sunk  -utterly 

into  the  earth,  and  never  appeared  afterward.  144 

Likewise,  the  priests  sunk  down  with  them, 

and  some  of  the  heathen  who  stood  there  at  hand; 

and  George  asked  the  wicked  emperor, 

'On  what  sort  of  gods  persuadest  thou  us  to  believe?  148 

How  can  they  deliver  thee  from  perils, 

when  they  cannot  deliver  themselves?' 

Thereupon,  Datian  endited  this  decree, 

and  bade  thus  to  kill  the  champion  of  God;  152 

'  Take  this  guilty  one,  who,  by  magic, 

hath  turned  our  venerable  gods  altogether  to  dust, 

and  drag  him  prone  with  his  face  to  the  earth 

through  all  the  streets  and  stony  ways,  156 

and  slay  him  afterward  with  the  edge  of  the  sword.' 

Then  the  heathen  dragged  the  holy  man, 

as  Datian  had  directed  them, 

142.  U.  fur.    U.  for-baernde.  155.  U.  neowelne, 

144.  TJ.  sjeteowdon  nsefre  sy])J)an.  157.  IJ.  om.  sy])])an. 

148.  U.  tihst.  158.  U.  tugun. 

149.  XJ.  hi.     U.  frsecednyssum.  159.  U.het  (/or  him  gedihthaefde). 
153-  U.  Vyssne. 


318  XIV.     NATALE    SANCTI    GEORGII,    MARTYEIS. 

o!<S\)cet  hi  comon  to  Saere  cwealm-stowe  .  i6o 

and  se  martyr  bsed  pcet  he  hine  gebiddan  moste  . 

to  Sam  selmihtigan  gode  and  his  gast  betsecan  . 

He  jjancode  'Sa  gode  eallra  his  godnyssa  . 

pcet  he  hine  gescylde  wi?S  Jjone  swicolan  deofol .  164 

and  him  sige  forgeaf  Jjurh  so'Sne  geleafan  . 

He  gebsed  eac  swylce  for  eall  cristen  folc  . 

and  Ipcet  god  forgeafe  Jjsere  eort5an  renas  . 

for  J)an  Se  se  hseSa  Jja  hynde  ?Sa  eortSan  .  168 

JEfter  tSisum  gebsede  he  bletsode  hine  sylfne  . 

and  bsed  his  slagan  Ipcet  he  hine  sloge  . 

Mid  J)am  t5e  he  acweald  wses  .  tSa  comon  Jjyder  sona 

his  agene  land-leode  geleofede  on  god  .  173 

and  gelsehton  his  lie  and  Iseddan  to  j^sere  byrig 

Jie  he  on  Srowode  .  and  hine  tSser  bebyrigdon 

mid  mycelre  arwurtSnysse  .  J^am  selmihtigan  to  lofe  . 

pa  asende  [sona]  drihten  ren-scuras  .  176 

and  Ipa.  eortSan  gewseterode  pe  ser  waes  for-burnen  . 

swa  swa  georius  bsed  serSan  pe  he  abuge  to  siege  . 

Hwset  Sa  datianus  wearcS  fsei'lice  ofslagen 

mid  heofonlicum  fyre  .  and  his  geferan  samod  180 

Jja  Sa  he  hamwerd  wses  mid  his  heah  jjegenum  . 

and  he  becom  to  helle  sercSan  Ipe  to  his  huse  , 

and  se  halga  georius  siSode  to  criste  . 

mid  Sam  he  d  wunaS  on  wuldre  .     Amen.  184 

160.  U.   hi.  169.  TJ.  gebede. 

163.  U.  H^.    U.  ealra.  172.  U.  landleoda.     TJ.  gelyfede. 

166.  U.  godes  (for  cristen).  173.  U.  lie,     U.  laeddon. 

168.  U.  h£e])a.    U.  f^.  175.  U.  arwyrSnysse. 


XIV.    SAINT  GEORGE,   MARrJTR.  319 

until  they  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  160 

and  the  martyr  asked  leave  that  he  might  pray 

to  Almighty  God,  and  commend  his  spirit. 

Then  he  thanked  God  for  all  His  mercies, 

that  He  had  shielded  him  against  the  deceitful  devil,  164 

and  had  given  him  victory  through  the  true  faith. 

He  prayed  likewise  for  all  Christian  folk, 

and  that  God  would  give  rain  to  the  earth, 

because  the  heat  was  then  wasting  the  land.  168 

After  this  prayer  he  crossed  himself, 

and  bade  his  slayer  to  kill  him. 

"When  he  was  slain,  there  came  straightway  thither 

the  people  of  his  own  country,  believers  in  God,  172 

who  took  his  body,  and  brought  it  to  the  city, 

wherein  he  had  suffered,  and  there  buried  him 

with  great  honour,  to  the  praise  of  the  Almighty. 

Then  the  Lord  sent  rain-showers,  176 

and  watered  the  earth,  which  before  was  burned  up, 

even  as  George  had  prayed,  before  he  bowed  to  the  death. 

Lo,  then,  Datian  was  suddenly  slain 

by  fire  from  heaven,  and  his  companions  together,  180 

as  he  was  going  homeward  with  his  high  thanes, 

and  he  went  to  hell  before  he  reached  his  house; 

and  the  holy  George  journeyed  to  Christ, 

with  whom  he  ever  dwelleth  in  glory.     Amen.  184 

176.  U.  rightly  supplies  sona  after  181.  U.  degnum  {sic). 
drihten.  182.  U.  om.  his. 

177.  U.  gewabterode.     U.  ser.  183.  U.  gedrius. 
180.  U.  heofonlice  fyre. 


320  XV.     PASSIO    SANCTI    MAKCI,    EUANGELISTE. 


XV. 

UII.    KAluENDAS  MAI  .  PASSIO  ^ANQTl  MARCI 
EUANGELISTE. 

[Collated  with  C.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  198  ;  U.  =  MS. 

Cambridge  University  Library,  li  i .  33  ;  and  V.  =  Cotton,  Vitel. 

D.  1 7  (much  burnt).] 

MAECVS   SE   GODSPELLEEE   BE   GODES    DIHTE    GE-f6r 
TO  AEGiPta  lande  and  (Sser  Iserde  \)cet  folc  . 
and  to  fulluhte  gebigde  fram  ]?am  fulan  hsejjenscype  . 
He  ferde  Jja  geond  call  tSset  aegiptisce  land  4 

sawende  godes  saed  .  and  (5a  seocan  gehselde  . 
^Hreoflige  he  geclsensode  frawi  tSsere  nnclsenan  co'Se  . 
wode  he  gehselde  .  and  on  witte  gebrohte  . 

and  adrsefde  ]3a^  deofla  ]?e  derodon  mannum  .  8 

pa  gelyfdon  'Sa  hseSenan  on  Sone  soSan  hselend 
and  wurdon  gefullode  .  and  towurpon  heora  deofol-gild  . 
He  weartS  J)a  eet  nextan  geneosod  Jjurh  god  . 
and  se  halga  gast  het  bine  faran  12 

to  alexandrian  byrig  .  and  bodian  geleafan  . 
Seo  burh  is  maerost  mid  egyptiscum  man-cynne  . 
Hwset  ]7a  se  god-spellere  gegrette  his  gebrotSra  . 
and  ssede  \>cet  se  haelend  bine  bete  faran  16 

to  alexandrian  byrig  ,  and  bodian  geleafan  . 
Hi  ]?a  sona  eoden  to  scipe  mid  him  . 
and  bsedon  god  georne  '^cet  he  his  weg  gewissode  . 
He  ferde  tSa  on  scipe  .  o?S  \>oet  he  gesundful  becom  20 

to  alexandrian  byrig  .  and  bodode  Sser  geleafan  . 
and  fela  wundra  worhte  and  tSser  wunode  lange  . 
Sum  sutere  siwode  ]?0es  halgan  weres  sceos  . 

Title.  U.  MAI ;  C.  DE  quart  A  .  euan-  egiptisce.    C.  land. 

GELisTAS  .  MATHEUS  MARCUS  .  LUCAS  .  5-  C.  s^wende.     U.  ssed.    C.U.  ge- 

lOHANNES.  haelde. 

1 .  U.  gefor ;  C.  for.  7.  C.  wdde.    C.  gehselde.    C.U.  ge- 

2.  U.  egiptaj  C.  egypta.    C. l^nde.  witte;  V.  gewitte  he. 

C.  peer  Iserde.  8.  C.  deoflu.      C.U.  deredon.      U. 

3.  C.  gebigde,    C.  haejjen-seype.  J)am  mannurn ;  C.  J)ani  mancynne. 

4.  C.  f^rde.      C.U.  om.  eall.  C.U.  9.  C.  gelyfdon. 

*  Leaf  72,  back.  ^  Jja  is  added  above  the  line. 


XV.    SAINT   MARK,    EVANGELIST.  321 

XV. 

APEIL  25.     ST.  MARK,  EVANGELIST. 

Mark  the  Evangelist  by  God's  direction  journeyed 

to  the  Egyptians'  land,  and  there  taught  the  people, 

and  inclined  them  to  baptism  from  foul  heathenism. 

Then  went  he  through  all  the  Egyptian  land,  4 

sowing  God's  seed,  and  healed  the  sick. 

He  cleansed  the  lepers  from  the  unclean  disease ; 

he  healed  the  possessed,  and  brought  them  to  their  wits, 

and  drave  out  the  devils  who  harmed  men.  8 

Then  the  heathen  believed  on  the  true  Saviour, 

and  were  baptised,  and  cast  away  their  idols. 

Then  he  had  next  a  visitation  from  God, 

and  the  Holy  Ghost  bade  him  go  12 

to  the  city  of  Alexandria,  and  preach  the  faitb. 

This  city  is  the  most  famous  in  the  Egyptian  nation. 

Then  the  Evangelist  greeted  his  brethren, 

and  said  that  the  Saviour  had  bidden  him  go  16 

to  the  city  of  Alexandria,  and  preach  the  faith. 

They  forthwith  went  to  the  ship  with  him, 

and  prayed  God  fervently  that  He  would  direct  his  way. 

He  went  then  in  the  ship  until  he  arrived  safely  20 

at  the  city  of  Alexandria,  and  there  preached  the  faith, 

and  wrought  many  miracles,  and  abode  there  long. 

A  certain  shoemaker  was  sewing  the'  holy  man's  shoes, 

10.  C.  towurpan.  18.  C.  B<5na.     U.  C.  eodon. 

11.  C.  nyhstan.  19-  U.  bsdon. 

12.  U.  V.  ins.  ]>a.  before  het ;  so  C.  20.  U.  He.  C.  pd.    U.V.  gesundfull. 
ins.  ])iC.  21.  C.  \>xr. 

13.  C.  bodi^an.  23.  V.  geworhte.  C.  liinge. 

15.  C.  gebro^ru.  23-  U.  ins.  (above)  hit  gelamp  aet 

16.  U.   saede.      U.    hselend.     C.U.       sume  ssele  })aet  before  sum  sutere.     C. 
h^te.  siitere  s^owode. 

21 


322  XV.    PASSIO   SANCTI   MARCI,   EUANGELISTE. 

and  Surh-jjide  his  hand  hetelice  swyjse  .  24 

ac  se  halga  wer  hine  gehselde  sona  . 

and  to  fulluhte  gebigde  and  fela  o?Sre  mid  him  . 

Anianus  wses  gehaten  se  ylca  sutere  . 

and  he  gejjeah  swa  for  gode  .  ])oet  se  godspellere  hine  gesette       28 

J?am  folce  to  bisceope  J?8ere  burh-scire  . 

He  ge-hadode  eac  Ipa,  Sry  messe-preostas  . 

and  seofou  diaconas  .  and  endleofan  clericas  . 

pa  syrwdon  tSa  hsetSenan  and  hine  beswican  woldon  .  32 

for)7an  \)e  he  awende  heora  gewunelican  tSeawas  . 

and  heora  goda  offrunga  mid  ealle  adwsescte  . 

pa  ferde  se  godspellere  fram  Ssere  byrig  . 

to  6am  geleaffullum  tSe  he  ser  Iserde  .  36 

and  tJaer  Jjurhwunode  wel  twa  gear  mid  him  . 

and  getrymede  tSa  gebrotSra  Se  he  ser  to  gode  gebigde  . 

and  pasr  bisceopas  gehadode  .  and  halige  preostas  . 

and  ferde  eft  ongean  to  alexandrian  byrig  .  40 

and  gemette  Jsser  fela  gemenig-fealde  on  geleafan . 

and  on  godes  gife  Seonde  and  he  tSses  Jjancode  gode  . 

Hi  hsefdon  eac  arsered  on  hrsedincge  ane  cyrcan  . 

and  weox  se  geleafa  .  and  godes  wuldor  scean  .  44 

pa  worhte  marcus  myccle  wundra  . 

he  gehgelde  untrume  on  Sses  hselendes  naman  . 

blinde  and  deafe  .  and  bodode  geleafan  . 

^  and  tSa  hsetSenan  cepton  hu  hi  hine  acwealdon  .  48 

pa  com  seo  halige  easter-tid  .  and  \)a.  hsetSenan  cepton 

hvvser  se  godspellere  msessode  .  and  msersode  his  drihten 

24.  C.  furh  fydde.     C.  Mnd.     U.  31.  U.  seofan;   C.  vii.      U.  endlu- 
h^telice.     C.  swy])e.  fan ;  C.  xi ;  V.  sendlyfan. 

25.  C.U.  gehalde.     C.  s6na.  32.  U.  syrwdon,  and  (above)  J)oh- 

26.  C.  gebygde.     C.  o])ra.  tan  ;  C.  wurdon.  U.  hae})enan.    U.  &, 

27.  C.U.   Anianus.       C.    gehaten.  and  (above)  J)set  hi.     U.  hine.     C.  U. 
V.  hatte  (for  wses  gehaten).     C.  XJ.  beswican. 

siitere.  33.  C.  forJ)on  he. 

28.  C.  sw^.  34.  C.U.  offrunge. 

29.  C.  bisceoppe  ;   U.  biscope.      C.  35.  C.  f^rde. 

T  Jjsere.  36.  C.V.  geleaffuUan.     U.  ar.     C. 

30.  C.  gehjldode  J)a  ^ac  J>ry  msesse-      larde. 

preostas,     V.  'Sreo.  37.  U.  tw^.  C.  mid  him  on.  V.  heom. 

1  Leaf  73. 


XV.     SAINT   MARK,    EVANGELIST. 


323 


and  pierced  through  his  hand  very  severely,  24 

but  the  holy  man  healed  him  immediately, 

and  inclined  him  to  baptism,  and  many  others  with  him. 

This  same  shoemaker  was  called  Anianus, 

and  he  throve  so  in  godliness  that  the  Evangelist  set  him       28 

over  the  people  as  bishop  of  the  city. 

Then  he  consecrated  also  three  mass-priests, 

and  seven  deacons,  and  eleven  clerks. 

Then  the  heathen  laid  snares,  desiring  to  entrap  him,  32 

because  he  had  changed  their  wonted  customs, 

and  utterly  extinguished  the  offerings  of  their  gods. 

Then  the  Evangelist  departed  from  the  city 

to  the  faithful  whom  he  had  before  taught,  36 

and  there  continued  about  two  years  with  them, 

and  strengthened  the  brethren  whom  he  had  before  converted 

to  God, 
and  there  consecrated  bishops  and  holy  priests, 
and  journeyed  back  again  to  the  city  of  Alexandria,  40 

and  found  there  many  multiplied  in  the  faith, 
and  thriving  in  God's  grace,  and  he  thanked  God  for  this. 
They  had  also  erected  a  church  in  haste, 

and  the  faith  waxed,  and  God's  glory  shone.  44 

Then  Mark  wrought  many  miracles ; 
in  the  Saviour's  name  he  healed  impotent  men, 
blind  and  deaf,  and  preached  the  faith, 

and  the  heathen  sought  how  they  might  slay  him.  48 

Then  came  the  holy  Eastertide,  and  the  heathen  sought 
where    the    Evangelist   was    saying    mass,    and   magnifying    his 

Lord, 


38.  C.U.  getrymde.  C.  gebrdfra. 
C.  ser.     C.  geblgde. 

39.  C.  geh^dode. 

40.  C.  alexsandrian. 

41.  U.  gemenigfylde  ;  C.  gemsenig- 
fi^alde ;  V.  gemaenig-fylde.  V.  ins.  gode 
after  on, 

42.  C.  gode  ])^ncode. 

43.  U.  arairad.  U.  hrsedinge ;  V. 
hraedinge.  C.  on  hraedince  arsered,  C. 
cirican. 


44.  C.  s^.     C.  J)aer  scean. 

45.  C.  mycele ;  U.  micle. 

46.  CU.  gehselde. 

47.  C.  bllnde.  C.  d^afe.   U.  bodade. 

48.  C.   h£e})enan    c^pton.      U.    J)a 
{above)  ;  keptan.     U.  hi. 

49.  C.  eastertld.      U.  kepton ;    C. 
cepton. 

50.  XJ.hw&T.  C.  msersode. 


21-2 


324  XV.    PASSIO   SANCTI   MARCI,    EUANGELISTE. 

Tpe  on  'Sam  ylcaii  dsege  of  deat5e  ards  . 

and  urnon  endemes  to  and  hine  gelseliton  .  52 

Becnytton  ©a  his  swuran  sona  mid  rape  . 

and  tugon  geond  tJa  street  .  swa  pcet  Ipa,  stanas  wseron 

raid  his  blode  begotene  .  and  mid  his  flsesce  begleddode  . 

and  se  halga  marcus  micclum  Jjancode  .  56 

Jjam  haelende  criste  \)cet  he  for  hine  Jjrowode  . 

pa  si'SSan  on  sefentiman  hi  setton  hine  on  cweartern  . 

o?5  pcet  hi  be?5ohton  hu  hi  hine  acwealdon  . 

Efne  J^a  on  middere  nihte  wearS  mycel  eortS-styrung  .  60 

and  godes  encgel  fleah  fserlice  to  pam  cwearterne  . 

and  awrsehte  |jone  godspellere  .  and  tJas  word  him  ssede  . 

pu  godes  ]5eowa  .  ]5in  nama  is  awriten 

on  Ssere  liflican  bee  and  Sin  gemynd  ne  ateoratS  .  64 

and  Su  eart  gefera  Ssere  upjilican  mihte  . 

Jjser  tSu  4  lyfast  .  and  J^in  gast  bic5  on  heofonum  . 

and  }?in  rest  ne  losaS  naefre  on  worulde  . 

pa  astrehte  se  halga  his  handa  and  cwoeS  .  68 

Ic  Sancie  Se  drihten  ])cet  Su  me  ne  forlete  . 

ac  gemundest  min  mid  )7inum  halgum  . 

Ic  bidde  J?e  nu  hselend  crist  .  onfoh  mine  sawle  on  sibbe  . 

and  ne  geSafa  J^u  pc^t  ic  beo  fram  Se  ascired  .  72 

Mid  Ipam  Se  he  Jjis  cwseS  .  ]?a  com  crist  sylf  him  to  . 

on  Jjsere  ylcan  gelicnysse  J^e  he  leofode  on  worulde  . 

and  hine  mid  sibbe  gegrette  .  and  ssede  him  jjas  word  . 

Pax  tibi  marce  noster  euangelista  76 

Sy  pe  syb  marce  ure  godspellere  . 

And  marcus  him  cwseS  to  .  Min  drihten  haelend  . 

and  se  hselend  siSode  sona  to  heofonum  . 


51.  U.  aras.  58.  V.  Djes.  C.  xfen-tlman  ;  U.  sefen- 

52.  C.  dmon.      C.  endemys.     C.U.  tlman.  C.  hine.     C.  cwearterne. 
hine.     U.  geljehton  ;  V.  geleahton.  59.  C.  hi.     C.  U.  hi.     U.  hine. 

53.  C.  ])i.      C.  sw^oran  mid  anum  60.  C.  6fne.     U.  middre. 
rape.  61.  C.U.  engel.     C.  fserlice. 

54.  C.  strata ;  U.  street.   C.  stanas.  62.  U.V.  awrehte.  U.  ssede.  C.  has 

55.  C.  blode.     C.-flaesce  begleJdod.  and  J)am  godspellere  fas  word   him 

56.  C.  TJ.  miclum.     C.  J)^ncode. 


57.  C.U.  hEelende.     C.  ))r(5wode.  63.  U.  >ln.     U.  awriten. 


XV.    SAINT  MARK,  EVANGELIST.  325 

who  on  that  same  day  arose  from  death, 

and  ran  together  and  seized  him.  52 

Then  straightway  they  knotted  a  rope  about  his  neck, 

and  dragged  him  through  the  streets,  so  that  the  stones  were 

sprinkled  with  his  blood,  and  befouled  with  his  flesh, 

and  the  holy  Mark  greatly  thanked  56 

the  Saviour  Christ,  that  he  was  suffering  for  Him. 

Then  afterward,  at  eventide,  they  put  him  in  prison, 

until  they  had  considered  how  they  might  kill  him. 

Lo!   then,  at  midnight  there  was  a  great  earthquake,  60 

and  God's  angel  flew  suddenly  to  the  prison, 

and  aroused  the  Evangelist,  and  said  these  words  to  him, 

'  Thou,  God's  servant,  thy  name  is  written 

in  the  book  of  life,  and  thy  memorial  faileth  not.  64 

And  thou  art  a  companion  of  the  celestial  power 

where  thou  shalt  ever  live,  and  thy  spirit  shalt  be  in  heaven, 

and  thy  resting-place  shall  never  be  lost  in  the  world.' 

Then  the  Saint  stretched  out  his  hands  and  said,  68 

'I  thank  Thee,  Lord,  that  Thou  hast  not  forsaken  me, 

but  rememberest  me  with  Thy  saints. 

I  pray  Thee  now,  Jesus  Christ,  receive  my  soul  in  peace, 

and  sufier  not  that  I  be  separated  from  Thee.'  72 

While  he  was  saying  this,  there  came  Christ  Himself  to  him, 

in  the  same  likeness  in  which  He  had  lived  in  the  world, 

and  gave  him  the  greeting  of  peace,  and  said  to  him  these  words, 

'  Pax  tibi,  Marce,  noster  euangelista,'  76 

'  Peace  be  with  thee,  Mark,  our  Evangelist.' 

And  Mark  said  to  Him,  'My  Lord  Jesus'; 

and  the  Saviour  straightway  departed  to  heaven. 


64.  C.  llflican.     C.  att^oralS.  73.  C.  t(5. 

65.  V.  «sera.  U.  uplican.  74.  C.  gellcnysse ;  U.  gelicnesse.  U. 

66.  C.V.  leofast.  leofode;  V,  lifde. 

67.  C.  nafre ;  om.  on  worukle.  75.  C.  U.  grette.  C.  ssede.  C.  w<5rd. 

68.  C.  hiCnda.  76.    C.   euuangeliste ;     U.    euuan- 

69.  C.piCncie;  V.Sancige.  C.forl^te.  gelista. 

70.  C.  gemiindest  rain.    V.  balgan.  77.  U.  sibb.  .  C.  marcus 

71.  U.  hselend.  C.  onf(5h.   C.  s^wle.  78.  (J.  him  i6  cwse)). 

72.  U.  l)afa,  C.  om.  J)u.  U.  astyred.  79.  C.  hjelend.    V. 'Sa  (/or  sona). 


326  XV.    PASSIO   SANCTI   MARCI,    EUANGELISTE. 

Hwset  J)a  on  serne  merigen  comon  'Sa  arleasan  hse'Senan  .         80 

and  becnytton  his  swuran  eft  sona  mid  rape  . 

and  drogon  liine  eft  swa  swa  hi  ser  dydon  . 

huxlice  sprecende  be  'Sam  halgan  were  . 

and  se  eadige  marcus  mycclum  jjsss  tSancode  84 

Jjam  hselende  criste  .  and  cwseS  ]?is  gebsed  . 

In  manus  tuas  domine  commando  spiritum  meum  . 

On  jjine  handa  drihten  .  ic  betsece  minne  gast  . 

and  he  gewat  mid  |7am  ^worde  of  worulde  to  gode  .  88 

mid  Sam  he  d  blyssatS  butan  earfot5nyssum  . 

pa  woldon  J^a  hsecSenan  his  lie  forbernan 

and  worhten  mycel  id.  .  ac  hit  wear's  adwsesced  . 

swa  pcet  god  asende  swySe  mycel  r6n  .  92 

ofer  ealne  Jjone  dsng  mid  eges-licum  'Sunore  . 

swa  pcet  manega  hus  hetelice  feollon  . 

and  eac  manega  menn  mid  Sam  |?unore  swulton  . 

and  J)a  oSre  flugon  mid  fyrhte  fornumene  .  96 

Comon  J)a  syS'San  sOna  Jsa  cristenan  . 

eawfseste  weras  and  hi  aweg  feredon 

Jjses  godspelleres  lie  .  and  ledon  on  anre  ))ryh  . 

and  mid  arwur'Snysse  bebyrigdon  .  mid  gebedum  ]7ancigende  .     100 

\)cet  hi  swilcne  halgan  mid  him  habban  moston  . 

him  to  mund-boran  .  to  J^am  selmihtigan  gode  . 

pam  sy  wuldor  and  lof  i  to  worulde  AMEN. 

ITEM   ALIA. 

We  habbaj)  nu  gessed  sceort-lice  on  'Sysum  gewryte  104 

hu  se  halga  marcus  wses  gemartyrod  . 
Nu  wylle  we  eow  secgan  hu  se  halga  hieronimus 
be  'Sam  feower  godspellerum  .  Se  gode  gecorene  synd  . 

80.  C.  U.  mergen;   V.  merien.     C.  85.  CXJ.  gebed. 

c6mon.     C  hset^enan.  87.  C  h^nda.     C.  betaece.     C  g^st. 

81.  C.  sw^oran.     C.  r^pon.  88.  C.  gew^t.     C.  w6rde. 

82.  C.  drdgon.     U.  hf  ter.  89.  V.  id.  C.U.  buton. 

84.  C.U.V.  eadiga.  C.  myclum  ;  U.  90.  C.  htejjenan.    C.U.  Ifc.    U.  for- 

miclum.     U.  om.  \>ses.     C.  ])£(ncode.  bfernan ;  C.  forbseman. 

*  Leaf  73,  back. 


XV.    SAINT   MARK,   EVANGELIST.  327 

Then  in  the  early  morning  came  the  wicked  heathen,  80 

and  knitted  his  neck  a  second  time  with  a  rope, 

and  dragged  him  again,  even  as  they  did  before, 

shamefully  speaking  about  the  holy  man ; 

and  the  blessed  Mark  greatly  thanked  84 

the  Saviour  Christ  for  this,  and  said  this  prayer : 

'  In  manus  iuas,  domine,  commendo  spiritum  meum ; 

Into  Thine  hands,  Lord,  I  commend  my  spirit.' 

And  with  these  words  he  departed  from  the  world  to  God,     88 

with  Whom  he  ever  rejoiceth  without  weariness. 

Then  the  heathen  desired  to  burn  his  body, 

and  made  a  great  pyre,  but  it  was  extinguished; 

for  God  sent  a  very  great  rain  92 

during  the  whole  day,  with  awful  thunder, 

so  that  many  houses  fell  with  violence, 

and  also  many  men  died  by  the  thunder, 

and  the  rest  fled,  seized  with  terror.  96 

Then  soon  after  came  the  Christians, 

pious  men,  and  they  bare  away 

the  Evangelist's  body,  and  laid  it  in  a  coffin, 

and  buried  it  honourably,  with  prayers  giving  thanks,  100 

(that  they  might  have  with  them  such  a  saint 

to  be  their  protector),  to  the  Almighty  God, 

to  Whom  be  glory  and  praise  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

OTHEE  THINGS  (THE   FOUR  EVANGELISTS). 

We  have  now  related  briefly  in  this  writing  104 

how  the  holy  Mark  was  martyred. 
Now  will  we  tell  you  how  the  holy  Jerome  wrote 
concerning  the  four  Evangelists  who  are  chosen  of  God, 

91.  C.U.  worhton.   V.  micelne.    V.  100.  U.  arwurSnesse;  C.  eadmod- 
wser'S.  C.acw^nced;U.  acweiiced( /or  nysse.     C.  jj^nciende. 
adwsesced),  loi.  C.  on  habban. 

92.  C.  swil.  C.  mycelne;  U.  V.  mi-  102.  V.  heom, 
celne.   TJ.  ren.                                                    103.  C,  lof.     U.  a. 

95.  C.V.  men.     C.  J)unere.  Title.  C.U.  om.  item  alia  ;  V.  ftas 

97.  C.  sdna.     V.  om.  ]>a.  before  cris-       de  quatvok  evangelistabum. 
tenan.  104.  C.  nil. 

98.  C.  ffiwfseste.     U.  bi.  ,       106.  C.U.  snotera  (for  halga). 

99.  C.  l^don  on  ^nre  ]>riih.  V.Sruh.  107.  V.  synt, 


328  XV.     PASSIO   SANCTI    MAKCI,   EUANGELISTE. 

awrat  on  Ssere  fore-sprsece  ]?a(5a  he  awende  cristes  boc  108 

of  ebreiscum  gereorde  .  and  sume  of  greciscum  . 

to  Iseden-sprsece  on  Ipsere  tSe  we  leorniatJ  . 

He  cwsetS  \)cet  lucas  ssede  swa  swa  hit  ful  sotS  is  . 

pcet  manega  menn  ongunnon  godspel  to  writenne  lu 

butan  |?am  halgan  gaste  and  j^aes  hselendes  wissunge  . 

and  be  heora  gewille  ssedon  swa  swa  him  ge]puhte  . 

and  ]?am  gelamp  seo  awyrigung  J^e  se  witega  cwsetS  . 

Wa  ]?am  pe  witegatS  be  heora  agenre  heortan  .  116 

and  faraS  sefter  heora  gaste  .  and  cwsecSaj?  pcet  hit  god  ssede 

pcet  Ipcet  hi  secgatS  and  god  hi  ne  sende  . 

Be  swilcum  cwsetS  se  hgelend  eac  on  sumere  stowe  . 

Warnia'S  eow  georne  witS  lease  witegan  .  120 

)?a  (Se  cumatS  to  eow  on  sceape  gelicnysse  . 

and  hi  synd  wij^-innan  reafigende  wulfas  . 

Ac  seo  geleaffulle  gelatSung  pe  is  gelogod  on  criste  . 

and  on  him  gefsestnod  swa  swa  on  fsestum  stane  .  124 

ne  under-fehS  }?a  gesetnyssa  pe  swilce  gedwolan 

tSurh  hi  sylfe  gesetton  .  buton  soSfsestnysse  . 

Se  forma  god-spellere  [is]  Ipe  gode  gecoren  wses  . 

matheus  gehaten  ^Jjone  se  hgelend  geceas  128 

of  woruldlicum  tollere  to  gastlicum  godspellere  . 

and  he  wses  an  tSsera  twelfa  godes  tSegna  . 

pe  awrat  on  ebreisc  serest  pa  godspel  . 

pe  on  tSsera  (sic)  forman  bee  .  beocS  geendebyrde  .  132 

He  awrat  hi  on  ebreisc  J^am  ebreiscum  mannum  . 

■Se  on  iudea  lande  gelyfdon  on  criste  . 

and  wolde  mid  ?5am  gewrite  pe  hi  wseron  on  afedde  . 

heora  geleafan  getrymman  .  fortSan  pe  he  lufode  hi  136 


108.  C.  awrsit.  C.  foresprjece.  U.  boc.  116.  C.U.  wit 

109.  C.  gereorde.  117.  C.  gaste.       C.U.  cwetJa^.     C. 
no.  C.U.  ledenre.     C.  sprxce,  sade. 

111.  C.  SKde.     U.V.  full.  118.  C.U.  hi,  V.  S£egca«.  C  om.  ne, 

112.  C.  mange  men.     U.  godspell.  C.  asende. 

C.  writenne  ;  V.  writanne.  120,  C.  gewitegan. 

113.  U.  halgen.     C.  gdste.  1 2 1 .  C.  sc^apa  ;  U.  sceapa.    U.  ge- 

114.  C,  s»don.     C.  heom.  licnessa. 

115.  V,  and  of  Jiam,    C.  awyrgung.  122.  U.  hi.   V,  synt.    C.  reafgende. 

'  Leaf  74, 


XV.    SAINT  MABK,   EVANGELIST.  329 

in  the  Preface,  when  he  translated  Christ's  book  108 

from  the  Hebrew  tongue,  and  some  from  the  Greek, 

into  the  Latin  speech,  in  which  we  learn. 

He  quoth  that  Luke  said,  even  as  it  is  very  true, 

that  many  men  began  to  write  the  Gospel  1 1  a 

without  the  direction  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  the  Saviour, 

and  according  to   their   own    will    said   even   as  it    seemed    to 

them, 

and  on  them  fell  the  curse  which  the  prophet  spake, 

'"Woe  to  them  that  prophesy  out  of  their  own  heart,  116 

and  go  after  their  own  spirit,  and  say  that  God  spake 

that  which  they  say,  and  God  hath  not  sent  them.' 

Of  such  spake  the  Saviour  also  in  a  certain  place, 

'Carefully  be  ye  ware  of  false  prophets,  lao 

who  came  to  you  in  sheeps'  semblance, 

and  within  they  are  ravening  wolves.' 

But  the  orthodox  church,  which  is  established  in  Christ, 

and  fastened  in  Him,  even  as  in  a  sure  stone,  134 

receiveth  not  the  writings  which  such  heretics 

wrote  of  themselves  without  truth. 

The  first  Evangelist,  who  was  chosen  by  God, 

[was]  named  Matthew,  whom  the  Saviour  chose  128 

from  being  a  worldly  taxgatherer  to  be  a  spiritual  Evangelist, 

and  he  was  one  of  the  twelve  servants  of  God; 

he  wrote  the  Gospel  first  in  Hebrew, 

which  is  set  in  order  in  the  first  book.  133 

He  wrote  it  in  Hebrew  for  the  Hebrew  people 

who  in  the  land  of  Judea  believed  in  Christ ; 

and  desired,  by  that  scripture  whereon  they  were  fed, 

to  confirm  their  faith,  because  he  loved  them ;  136 

134.  C.  8w^  sw^.      C.  sUnum;  U.  130.  V.  Jjsere.      C.  U.  cristes  {for 

e,iiea.e.  godes).     C.  «egena. 

125.  V.  eac  ne  {fw  ne).    C.  he  ])a.  131.  C.  awrdt.    U.  godspell. 

126.  U.  hi.     U.  butan.  n'^.  C.  V.  )»ere.    U.  bee.   C.  ge^n- 

127.  U.  ins.  is  hef.  fe:   «o  C.  ins.  debyrde. 

yg,  133.  U.  hi.     U.  om.  mannum. 

128.  C.gehc^ten.    C.hselend.  C.ge-           I34-  C.l^nde.  C.  gelyfdon.  C.  crist. 
c^s.  135-  C.  w<51de.  C.gewritum.  U.  hf. 

129.  V.  om.  gastlicum.  136.  C.  forSaru  J)e.     O.U.  hi. 


330  XV.    PASSIO   SANCTI   MARCI,    ETTANGELISTE. 

and  he  sceolde  tJa  faran  to  fyrlenum  lande  . 

to  hsejsenum  leodum  hi  to  lairenne  . 

Jja  wolde  he  on  ser  .  his  agenre  leode 

\>cet  godspell  awritan  .  gercSam  Jje  he  gewende  him  fram  .        140 

Se  ocSer  godspellere  is  marcus  .  pe  wass  mid  Jjam  apostole  petbb 

getogen  on  lare  .  and  to  geleafan  gebiged  . 

Petrus  wses  his  god-fseder  and  hine  gode  gestrynde  . 

and  he  swa  lange  folgode  his  fuUuht-fsedere  petre  .  144 

otS  pcet  he  gesette  mid  so'Sum  geleafan  . 

J?a  otSre  cristes  hoc  on  italia  lande  . 

Ne  ge-seah  he  crist  on  life  .  ac  he  leornode  swa'Seah 

of  petres  bodunge  hu  he  (Sa  hoc  gesette  .  148 

and  petrus  hi  sceawode  and  sealde  to  rsedenne  . 

Se  tSridda  godspellere  is  lucas  .  se  wees  Isece  on  worulde  . 

and  wunode  mid  ?5am  apostolum  .  and  mid  paule  syt5San  . 

J?eowigende  J?am  selmihtigan  butan  selcum  leahtre  .  152 

on  claenum  life  sefre  buton  wife  .  mid  godes  gaste  afylled  . 

and  he  tSa  godspel  awrat  .  and  wislice  geende-byrde  . 

and  actus  apos^olorum  eac  he  gesette  . 

He  awrat  his  godspell  on  achaian  lande  .  156 

and  gewat  to  gode  mid  tSara  halgan  gaste  afylled  . 

Sa  pSL  he  wges  on  ylde  feower  and  hund-eahtatig  geara  . 

Se  feortSa  godspellere  is  iohannes  cristes  moddrian  sunu  . 

se  wses  criste  swa  leof  pcet  he  hlynode  uppan  his  breoste  .     160 

on  (5am  J^e  wses  behyd  [eall]  se  heofonlica  wisdom  . 

Bwylce  he  of  Sam  drunce  pa  deopan  lare  . 

pe  he  sitSSan  awrdt  on  wundorlicor  gesetnyssa  . 

swa  pcet  he  ofer-stah  ealle  gesceafta  .  164 

and  pa  word  geopenade  pe  englas  ne  dorston  . 

137.  C.  sc61de  ])^.     TJ.  landum;  C.  143.  V.  wses  eac  his.    C.  getrymde. 
Mndum.  144.  C.  Mnge.     U.  fuUuht-feder. 

138.  V.  feodum.  TJ.  hi.  C.laeranne;  146.  C.  '5a.  on  fiaere  cristes  bdc  on 
U.  laerene.  igtalia  Mnde. 

139, 140.  C,  w61de  he  an  ser  \>a,  god-  147.  C.  l^oraode. 

spel  awritan  hys  agenre  leode,  &c.  148.  U.  boc. 

140.  TJ.  ser  fan  1)6.       C.  gewende;  149.  TJ.  hf,     C.  sceawode.    C.  rxd- 
TJ.  wende.  enne. 

141.  C.U.  om.  is.     C.  se  w£es.  150.  CAxce. 

142.  C.  Idre.     C.  geleafan  gebiged. 


XV.    SAINT  MARK,   EVANGELIST.  331 

and  he  had  to  depart  then  into  far  distant  lands 

to  heathen  nations,  to  teach  them. 

Then  he  desired  first  of  all  to  write  the  Gospel 

for  his  own  people,  before  he  departed  from  them.  140 

The  second  Evangelist  is  Mark,  who  was  by  the  Apostle  Peter 

educated  in  doctrine,  and  converted  to  the  faith. 

Peter  was  his  godfather,  and  begat  hitii  to  God, 

and  he  so  long  •  followed  his  baptismal  father  Peter,  144 

until  he  had  written,  with  true  faith, 

the  second  book  of  Christ,  in  the  land  of  Italy. 

He  never  saw  Christ  in  life,  but  he  learned,  nevertheless, 

from  Peter's  preaching,  how  he  should  write  the  book,  148 

and  Peter  examined  it,  and  delivered  it  to  be  read. 

The  third  Evangelist  is  Luke,  who  was  a  physician  in  the  world, 

and  dwelt  with  the  apostles,  and  with  Paul  afterward, 

serving  the  Almighty  without  any  sin  152 

in  a  pure  life,  ever  without  a  wife,  filled  with  God's  Spirit, 

and  he  wrote  and  wisely  arranged  the  Gospel, 

and  he  also  wrote  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 

He  wrote  his  Gospel  in  the  land  of  Achaia,  156 

and  departed  to  God,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 

when  he  was  four  and  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  fourth  Evangelist  is  John,  Christ's  aunt's  son; 

he  was  so  dear  to  Christ  that  he  leaned  upon  His  breast      160 

in  which  was  hidden  the  heavenly  wisdom, 

as  if  he  thence  might  drink  the  deep  learning 

which  he  afterward  wrote  in  wonderfuller  writings, 

so  that  he  surpassed  all  creatures,  164 

and  declared  the  words  which  angels  durst  not. 

151.  C.  wunigende.  C.  hund-eahte-tig. 

152.  C, 'Seowgynde.  C.  aslmihtigan  159.  C.  suna, 

gode.     V,  leahtrum.  160.  C,  criste.     U.  l^of. 

153.  C.  life.    C.U.  butan.    C.  wffe,  161.  C.  ins.  eal  (U.V.  eall)  bef.  se 

154.  U.  godspell.       C.  awr^t.      C.       heofenlica. 

wlslice  ge-^ndebyrde.  162.  C.  drtince.     C.  Ifire. 

156.  C.  awrat.        C.  godspel.        C.  163.   U.  awrat ;  V.  om.  U.  wundor- 
achaigan  landen.  Here  gesetnesse.     C.  gesetnysse. 

157.  C.  gewdt  J){Br.     C.  g^ste.  164.  C.  oferstah, 

158.  0.  ylde.      U.  hundeahtitig;  165.  C.  wdrd.    C.  U.  V.  geopenode. 


332  XV.    PASSIO   SANCTI   MARCI,   EUANGELISTE. 

He  wses  serest  gecoren  eallra  ]?8era  god-spellera  . 

ac  he  is  fortSi  se  feortJa  ioYpa,n  pe  he  sette  pa,  feorcSan  hoc. 

8efter?5am  pe  cSa  ocSre  ge-eiidebyrde  wseron  .  i68 

^and  wide  geond  J^a  woruld  awritene  wseron  . 

On  asia  he  waes  pa  he  awrat  ]?a  hoc  . 

and  he  leofode  lange  on  life  eefter  criste  . 

otS  poet  ))a  oSre  apostolas  geendoden  heora  lif .  17a 

and  sige-fseste  ferdon  to  tJan  soJ?an  life  . 

Das  feower  godspelleras  syndon  gode  gecorene  . 

and  hi  ealne  middan-eard  mid  heora  lare  on-lihton  . 

swa  swa  fja  feower  edn  .  Se  ymaS  of  neorxne-wange .  176 

ealne  ]?isne  embhwyrft  endemes  wseteria?5  . 

and  t5as  feower  godspelleras  god  geswutelode  gefyrn  . 

on  tSeere  ealdan  se  .  ezechihele  para  witegan  . 

He  geseah  on  his  gesihcSe  .  swylce  feower  nytenu  .  180 

An  jjaera  feower  nytena  wses  gesewen  .  swilce  mannes  ansyn  . 

pcet  ocSer  wses  lie  anre  leon  hiwe  . 

and  pcet  Jjridde  stod  anum  styrce  gelic  . 

and  pcet  feor?5e  wses  fagum  earne  gelic  .  184 

pes  mannes  gelicnyss  belimptS  to  matheg  . 

for(5an  J^e  he  ongan  his  godspell  be  cristes  menniscnysse  . 

Se  leo  belimpcS  .  swa  swa  J^a  geleaffullan  secgaj?  . 

to  marces  gelicnysse  .  forSan  pe  he  hlud  swege  clypode  .        188 

swa  swa  leo  grimmetetS  gredig  on  westene  . 

Uox  clamantis  In  deserto  .  parate  uiam  domini  rectas  facite  semitas 

eius  . 
Clypiende   stemn  on  westene  .   gearciatS  godes  weg  .  dd<S  rihte 

his  patSas  . 
pges  celfes  gelicnyss  belimp'S  to  lucan  .  192 

fortSan  pe  he  ongan  his  godspell  .  swd  sw4  god  him  gedihte  . 

166.  C.U.V.  ealra,  175.  V.  ealle.   C.  Mre.  V.  onlihten. 

167.  C.  for])ig.     C.  forSam.  176.  C.  ^an.   C.  neorxna-wdnge ;  U. 

168.  U.  aefter  ])an.  C.  ge^ndebyi'de.  neorxnawange ;  V.  neorxna-wonge. 

169.  C.U.V. fas  (/or  J7a).  U.worold.  177.    U.     ymbhwyrft;     C.     ymbe- 

170.  C.U.  wrat.     C.  bdc.  hwyrft.     C.  ^ndemys. 

171.  U.  om.  lange.     U.  life.  178.  C.  ora.  and. 

172.  C.  U.  geendodon ;   V.  geende-  179.  C.U.V.  ezechiele. 

don.   C.  lyf.  1 8 1.  U.  ^n.  V.]?aere.  C.U.  (M». feower, 

173.  U.  J»am,     C.  lyfe.  C.  sCnsyn. 

^  Leaf  74,  back. 


XV.    SAINT  MARK,  EVANGELIST.  333 

He  was  the  first  chosen  of  all  the  Evangelists, 

but  he  is  for  all  that  the  fourth,  because  he  wrote  the  fourth  book, 

after  that  the  others  were  set  in  order  i68 

and  were  widely  written  throughout  the  world. 

He  was  in  Asia  when  he  wrote  the  book, 

and  he  lived  long  in  life  after  Christ, 

until  the  other  apostles  had  ended  their  lives,  172 

and  had  gone,  victorious,  to  the  true  life. 

These  four  Evangelists  are  chosen  of  God, 

and  they  enlightened  all  the  world  by  their  lore, 

even  as  the  four  rivers  which  run  from  Paradise  176 

together  water  all  this  orb ; 

and  these  four  Evangelists  God  revealed  of  old, 

in  the  Old  Law,  to  the  prophet  Ezekiel. 

He  saw  in  his  vision  four  beasts  such  as  these ;  180 

one  of  the  four  beasts  was  seen  as  it  were  the  appearance  of  a  Man, 

the  second  was  like  a  Lion's  form, 

and  the  third  stood  like  a  Stirk  (Calf), 

and  the  fourth  was  like  a  variously  coloured  Eagle.  184 

The  Man's  likeness  belongeth  to  Matthew, 

because  he  began  his  Gospel  about  Christ's  humanity. 

The  Lion  belongeth,  as  the  orthodox  say, 

to  Mark's  likeness,  because  he  cried  with  a  loud  sound,  188 

even  as  the  lion  roareth  greedily  in  the  desert, 

'  Vox  clamaniis  in  deserto,  parate  viam  domini,  rectus  facile  semitas 

eius; 
A  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness.  Prepare  ye  God's  ways,  make 

His  paths  straight.' 
The  Calf's  likeness  belongeth  to  Luke,  192 

because  he  began  his  Gospel,  even  as  God  directed  him, 

182.  C.U.  T  l)set.   C.  gelic ;  IT.  gelfc.  forjjam  Se.  C.  hWd  swige  clypude ;  V. 
C.  anum  leo ;  om.  hiwe.  hlud  on  swege  clypode. 

183.  U.  stod  ;  C.  om.  stod.    C.  cealfe  189.  C,  swji  sw^.    U.  grymmette'5 ; 
{for  styrce).     C.  gelic.  C.  griinmettej).     C.U.  graedig. 

184.  C.  anum  {for  fagum),  C.  gelic.  191.  U.  clypiendes;  V.  Clypigende. 

185.  C.  Dees.  U.  gelicnys.  C.  mathee ;  C.  stemne. 

U.  math^d.  192.  C.V.  cealfes.    U.  gelicnys;  C. 

186.  C.  forjjam.  C.  godspel.  gelicnys.     U.  belimpe'5. 

187.  C.U.V,  Seo.  193.  C.V.  forl)am.    U.  ongann.    O. 

188.  C.  marcMS.  C.  gelfcnysse.    C.       spel  (/or  godspell).     U.  swa  swa. 


334  XV.     PASSIO   SANCTI   MAECI,    EUANGELISTE. 

fram  Sam  sacerde  'pe  zacharias  hatte  . 

forSan  pe  man  offrode  on  tSa  ealdan  wisan 

cealf  for  cSsene  sacerd  .  and  ofsloli  set  tSam  weofode  .  196: 

pees  earnes  gelicnys  belimptS  to  iohanne  . 

fortSan  Ipe  se  earn  flyhtS  ealra  fugela  ufemest  . 

and  maeg  swytSost  starian  on  }38ere  sunnan  leoman  . 

Swa  dyde  lohaunes  se  driht-wurcSa  writere  .  200 

he  fleah  feor  upp  .  swylce  mid  earnes  fytSerum  . 

and  beheold  gleawlice  hu  he  be  gode  mihte  moerlicost  writan  . 

Se  fore-sseda  witega  ssede  on  his  gesih(Se  . 

\)cet  Jjaera  feower  nytena  f6t  wseron  rihte  .  204 

and  hi  eodon  aefre  sefter  Sam  gaste  . 

and  hsefdon  eagan  him  on  selce  healfe  . 

pus  is  on  Ssere  ealdan  se  .  awri^ten  be  tSam  godspellerum  . 

and  eft  on  Saere  niwan  gecySnysse  sefter  cristes  menniscnysse  .    208 

apocalypsis  seo  boo  be  tSis  ylcum  segtS 

pcet  iohannes  gesawe  Ipa.  fore-ssedan  nytenu  . 

on  ]3am  ylcan  hiwe  ])e  we  ser  ssedon  . 

and  hi  sungon  J)isne  sang  .  mid  singalum  dreame  .  213 

Sanctus  .  Sanctus  .   Sanc^ws  .  dominus   deus   omnipotens  .  qui 

erat  .  et  qui  est  .  et  qui  uenturus  est  . 
Halig  .  halig  .  halig  .  drihten   god   selmihtig  .  setSe  wses  .  and 

seSe  nu  is  .  and  seSe  towerd  is  . 
Se  halga  sang  geswutelaS  pa,  halgan  Jjrynnysse  . 
on  anre  godcundnysse  sefre  vvunigende  .  a  16 

seo  Se  sefre  wses  .  and  eac  nu  wunaS  . 
and  sefre  is  towerd  butan  ateorunge  . 
Nu  we  habbaS  gessed  on  Sisre  sceortnysse  . 
hu  god  geswutelode  pa.  soSfsestan  godspelleras  .  220 

on  Jjsere  ealdan  .  se  .  and  eac  on  J^sere  niwan  . 

195.  C.V.  for))am.     C.U.  wisan.  203.  C.  fore-ssede. 

197.  TJ.  gelicnes.  204.  C.U.  fet. 

198.  C.  forSam.     U.V.  ufemyst.  205.  C.  g&te. 

200.  C.  dyr-wur])a ;  U.  riht-wurSa.  206,  C.  hsefdon. 
C.  writere.  208.  C.  niwan. 

201.  U.  feorr.     Clip.  209.  U.  boc.  C.U.  be  fysum.   C.V. 

202.  C.    beheold    gleawlice.      C.       sjeg]?. 
gleawlicost  {for  mserlicost). 

^  Leaf  75. 


XV.    SAINT  MARK,   EVANGELIST.  335 

from  the  priest  who  was  called  Zacharias; 

because  people  offered,  in  the  old  fashion, 

a  calf  for  the  priest,  and  slew  it  at  the  altar.  196 

The  Eagle's  likeness  belongeth  to  John, 

because  the  eagle  flieth  the  highest  of  all  birds, 

and  can  most  steadily  stare  at  the  sun's  light. 

So  did  John,  the  divine  writer;  200 

he  flew  far  up,  as  if  with  eagle's  wings, 

and  beheld  sagaciously  how  he  might  write  most  nobly  of  God. 

The  aforesaid  prophet  said  in  his  vision, 

that  the  four  beasts'  feet  were  straight;  204 

and  they  went  ever  after  the  spirit, 

and  had  eyes  upon  each  side  of  them. 

Thus  is  it  written  about  the  Evangelists  in  the  Old  Law, 

and  again  in  the  New  Testament  after  Christ's  incarnation.    208 

The  Book  of  the  Apocalypse  saith  about  this  same, 

that  John  saw  the  aforesaid  beasts 

in  the  same  appearance,  which  we  before  said, 

and  they  sung  this  song  with  continual  harmony,  212 

*  Sanctus,  Sanctus,  Sanctus,  dominus  deus  omnipotens,  qui  erat,  et 

qui  est,  et  qui  venturus  est : 
Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  Almighty,  which  was,  and  which 

now  is,  and  which  is  to  come.' 
This  holy  song  signifieth  the  Holy  Trinity 

in  One  Godhead,  ever  abiding,  216 

who  ever  was,  and  also  now  continueth, 
and  ever  is  to  come,  without  ceasing. 
Now  we  have  said,  in  this  epitome, 

how  God  revealed  the  true  Evangelists  220 

in  the  Old  Law,  and  also  in  the  New ; 


210.  C.  ges^we.  216.  C,  ^nre.     C,  lefre. 

211.C,  hfwe.  U.aerfore;  C.  ^rfore.  217.  C.  ^fre.     C.  ^ac. 

212.    C.  siingan;   U.  sungun.     C.  218.    C.  sefre.     C.V.  toweard.    C. 
dreamum.                                                     buton. 

214.  C.  ins.  Q)efore  this  line)  pcet  219.  C.  ^issere. 

ys.   C.  ins.  eart  ])u  bef.  drihten.   C.V.  220.  U,  hd. 

toweard.  221.  U.  se.     C,  nfwan. 


336  XVI.    SEUMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTOHUM. 

and  pas  feower  ana  syndon  to  under-fonne  . 

on  geleaffulre  gelaSunge  .  and  forlsetan  ]>&,  otSre 

pe  lease  gesetnysse  gesetton  .  'Surla  hi  sylfe  .  224 

na  ]?urh  }3one  halgan  gast  .  ne  t5urh  tSses  hselendes  gecorennysse 

We  geendiatS  pns  t5as  gesetnysse  h6r  .  226 


XYI. 

SERMO   DE  MEMORIA  SANCTORUM. 
Spel  loca  hwsenne  mann  wille. 

[Collated  with  D.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,  303,  p.  290 ; 
and  U.  =  MS.  University  Library  Cambridge,  li.  i,  33.] 

EGO   SUM    ALFA   ET    w  .  INITIUM   ET    FINIS    DIGIT    HOMINVS    TiEUS  . 
qui  est  et  qui  erat  et  qui  uenturus  est  omni'potens  . 
Dset  is  on  englisc  .  Ic  eom  angin  .  and  ende  .  cwse]?  drihten  god  . 
setSe  is .  and  seSe  wses .  and  setSe  towerd  is  selmihtig  [god  ^]  . 

An  selmihtig  god  is  on  Jjrym  hadum  sefre  wunigende  . 

sepe  ealle  J^incg  gesceop  .  nu  habbe  we  anginn  Jjurh  hine  . 

fortSan  pe  he  us  gesceop  .  pajSa.  we  nseron 

and  us  eft  alysde  pa  pa.  we  for-wyrhte  wseron  .  4 

Nu  sceole  we  hogian  mid  mycelne  gymene  . 

pcet  ure  lif  beo  swa  gelogod  . 

pcet  ure  ende  geeudige  on  god  (sic)  . 

Jjanon  }je  us  pcet  angin  com  .  8 

We  magon  niman  gode  bysne  . 

serest  be  ?Sam  halgum  heah-fsederum  . 

hu  hi  on  heora  life  gode  gecwemdon  . 

and  eac  set  psna  halgum  pe  Jiam  hselende  folgodon  .  12 

223.  C.  forlatan.  Title  JJ.     Inoipit  sebmo,  etc.      D. 

224.  U.  hi.  adds  qoando   uoluekis.      D.U.  om. 
226.  C.  India's.      IT.  her.     C.  adds       spel  loca  hwsenne  mann  wille.    U.  al- 

T  sy  ))am  w^l  willendan  hselende  ^  fha.  U.  D.  o.  U.  om.  dews.  D.  sen- 
wuldor  -J  16f  butan  selcum  ^nde  on  glisc.  U.  anginn.  D.  aende.  D.  to- 
^cnysse.    Amen.  weard.     U.  D.  om.  god. 

^  Above  the  line. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  337 

and  these  four  only  are  to  be  received 

in  the  orthodox  church,  and  the  others  to  be  rejected, 

who  wrote  false  writings,  by  themselves  (only),  224 

not  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  nor  by  the  Saviour's  choosing. 

Thus  we  end  this  treatise  here.  226 


XVL 

MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS. 

[A  homily  for  any  occasion.] 

'  Ego  sum  alfa  et  <a,  initium  et  finis,  dicit  dominus  deus,  qui  est 
et  qui  erat  et  qui  -venturus  est,  omnipotens.'  That  is  in 
English ;  '  I  am  the  beginning  and  the  end,  saith  the  Lord 
God,  who  is,  and  who  was,  and  who  is  to  come.  Almighty.' 

There  is  One  Almighty  God  in  Three  Persons,  ever  continuing, 
Who  created  all  things.     Now  we  have  [our]  beginning  through 

Him, 
because  He  created  us  when  we  were  not, 
and  afterward  redeemed  us  when  we  were  lost.  4 

Now  we  have  to  take  care,  with  great  diligence, 
that  our  life  shall  be  so  ordered, 
that  our  end  may  end  in  God, 

from  Whom  came  to  us  our  beginning.  8 

We  may  take  good  examples, 
first,  from  the  holy  patriarchs, 
how  they  in  their  lives  pleased  God, 
and  also  from  the  Saints  who  followed  the  Saviour.  12 


1.  D.  wuniende.  6.  D.  llf.     D.U.  gelogod. 

2.  D.U.  ping.  D.  hjebbe.  D.  angin.  7.  U.  god. 

3.  D.  lis.      U.  J)a  Se  we.  8.  D.U.  us.     U.  anginn.     D.  c6m. 

4.  D.  alesde.     D.  forworhte.  9.  D.  gdde. 

5.  U.  sceolae.     D.  mycelre  gemene.  10.  D.  halgan. 

22 


338  XVI.     SEEMO    DE   MEMORIA    SANCTORUM. 

^rest  abel  adames  sumi  wses  gode  swa  gecweme 

Jjurh  unscecSj^ignysse  and  rihtwisnysse  .  pcet  crist  sylf  hine 

het  abel  ^  iustus  .  pcet  is  se  rihtwisa  abel  . 

Eft  enoch  se  seofoSa  mann  fram  adame  .  i6 

waes  swa  estful  on  his  mode  .  and  gode  swa  [ge  ^jlicwurcSe  . 

pcet  god  hine  genam  swa  andsundne  on  sawle  and  on  lichaman 

butan  deaSe  up  to  heofonum  .  JjacJa  he  on  ylde  wees  Jsreo  hnnd  geara 

and  fif  and  sixtig  geara  .  and  he  ]5urh-wuna(S  swa  andsund      20 

butan  deaSe  and  butan  geswince  oS  antecristes  tocyme  . 

N"oe  eac  for  his  rihtwisnysse  ofer-com  pcet  miccle  flod 

Jje  ealne  middan-eard  ofer-eode  .  swa  [}?ce<'^]  tJurh  hine 

wear's  eft  eall  mancynn  geedstajjelod  .  24 

Abraham  for  his  micclan  geleafan  to  gode  . 

and  for  his  gehyrsumnysse  under-feng  swilce  bletsunge  aet  gode  . 

pcet  eall  mancynn  tSa  pe  gelyfatS  on  god  is  gebletsod  on  his  cynne  . 

and  his  sunu  Isdic  sefter  him  leofode  mid  bletsunge  .  28 

and  god  hine  lufdde  .  Eft  lacob  isaaces  sunu  . 

for  his  geswincum  sotSlice  wearS  gebletsod 

serest  set  his  fseder  .  and  sitStSan  set  godes  engle  . 

and  god  him  gesette  ]?a  otSerne  naman  israhel  .  32 

poet  is  uir  uidens  deum;  [Dset  is  ongliscre  sprsece^];  se  wer  pe 

god  gesihtJ  . 
and  mid  Sam  naman  wseron  pa,  getacnode  . 
pe  nu  on  cristen-dome  Suruh  geleafan  god  geseocS  . 
lob  se  eadiga  and  se  anrseda  godes  Segn  .  36 

wses  swa  ful-fremed  on  eallum  godnyssum  .  pcet  god  sylf  cwsetS 

be  him  . 
pcet  bis  gelica  nsere  tSa  on  Sam  life  ofer  eorSan  . 
pa  bsed  se  deofol  set  gode  J?set  he  moste  his  fandian  . 
hwseSer  he  Surh-wunian  wolde  on  his  godnysse  40 


13.  D.  gecwemse.  licwurSe;  D.  licwurSe. 

14.  U.  unsc8e})])ignysse,      D.  riht-  18.  D.U.  om.  swa. 
wisnesse,    D.  god  (for  crist).    D,  self.  19.  D.  buton.     D.  geare, 

15.  D.  riht  wise;  U,  rihtwisa.  20.  D.U.  ansund. 

16.  D.  enoh.     D.  man.  21.  D.  buton. 

17.  U.  estfuU.      D.  mdde.     U.  ge-  22.    D.  4dc.      D.U.  rihtwisnesse. 

'  Leaf  75  back.  *  Above  the  line. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  339 

First  Abel,  Adam's  son,  was  so  pleasing  to  God, 
through  innocence  and  righteousness,  that  Christ  Himself 
called  Abel  Justus,  that  is,  the  righteous  Abel. 

Again  Enoch,  the  seventh  man  from  Adam,  i6 

was  so  devout  in  his  mind  and  so  well-pleasing  to  God, 
that  God  took  him,  sound  in  soul  and  body, 
without  death,  up  to  heaven,  when  he  was  three  hundred 
and  sixty-five  years  of  age ;  and  he  so  continueth,  sound,         20 
without  death,  and  without  toil,  until  Antichrist's  coming. 

Noah  also,  for  his  righteousness,  overcame  the  great  flood, 
which  went  over  the  whole  earth,  so  that  through  him 
all  mankind  was  again  restored.  S4 

Abraham,  for  his  great  faith  in  God, 
and  for  his  obedience,  received  such  a  blessing  from  God, 
that  all  mankind  which  believeth  in  God  is  blessed  in  his  seed, 
and  his  son  Isaac  after  him  lived  with  blessing,  28 

and  God  loved  him.     Again  Jacob,  Isaac's  son, 
for  his  labour  was  verily  blessed, 
first  by  his  father,  and  afterward  by  God's  angel, 
and  God  gave  him  that  second  name,  of  Israel,  32 

that  is,  ' Vir  videns  deum'  (that  is  in  English  speech)  ' The  man 

who  seeth  God,' 
and  by  that  name  those  were  signified, 
who  now  in  Christendom  see  God  by  faith. 

Job  the  blessed,  and  God's  constant  servant,  36 

was  so  perfected  in  all  goodness,  that  God  Himself  said  of  him, 
that  his  like  was  not  then  living  upon  earth; 
Then  the  devil  asked  of  God  that  he  might  prove  him, 
whether  he  would  continue  in  his  goodness  4° 


D.  ofercdm.      IT.  micle ;    D.  mycele.  33.  D.U.  om.  words  in  hracket. 

D.  fl(5d.  34.  D.  getacnode  l)a  {transposed). 

23.  i),U,  swa  jjcct.  35-  r>.U.  )>urh. 

25.  D.  mycelen ;  U.  miclan.  36.  D,U.  anraeda.    TJ.  fegen. 

26.  D.  gehersu?ttnesse.  37-  U.  full-fremed,    D.  g<5dnyssum, 

27.  D.  eal  mancyn.     D.  gelefaS.  38.  D.U.  gelica.    D.  >an;  U.  om. 


30.  D.  gebletsode.  D.  eorCum. 

31.  D.  sengle. 


22-2 


340  XVI.    SEUMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

and  bile-witnysse  otS  his  lifes  ende  . 

oStSe  he  wolde  fram  gode  abugan  Jjurh  ?Sa  ormsetan  ehtnysse  . 

J^e  se  nitSfulla  deofol  him  on  asende  . 

Hwset  tSa  se  deofol  anes  deges  ealle  his  aehta  acwealde  .  44 

and  his  seofon  suna  and  tSreo  dohtra  .  and  hine  sylfne  eac  si'S'San  . 

mid  eges-licre  untrumnysse  geswencte  . 

ac  se  anrseda  16b  nolde  naefre  abugan  fram  godes  lufe  . 

ne  for  ehtnysse  .  ne  for  untrumnysse  .  ne  for  his  bserna  lyre  .       48 

ne  nan  dyslic  word  ongean  god  ne  cwaetJ  . 

ac  mid  micclum  gejjylde  he  ?5ancode  sefre  gode  . 

and  mid  inn[e]werdre-heortan  his  drihten  aefre  herode  . 

God  hine  tSa  gehselde  fram  tSam  egeslican  broce  .  52 

and  his  sehta  ^him  forgeald  ealle  be  twi-fealdum  . 

and  he  leofode  'Sa  gesselig  fortSan  Ipe  he  ofer-swiSde  ]3one  deofol  . 

Dauid  for  his  man-]3wyrnysse  and  mild-heortnysse  . 

weartS  gode  gecweme  and  to  cynincge  gecoren  .  56 

swa  \)cet  god  sylf  cwsetS  Ipus  be  him  . 

Ic  afunde  me  dauid  iessan  sunu  .  sefter  minre  heortan 

setSe  minne  willan  mid  weorcum  gefremtS  . 

Eft  helias  se  setSela  witega  fortSan  pe  he  wan  wit?  uuriht-wisnysse  . 

wearS  on  heofenlicum  crsete  to  heofonum  ahafen  . 

and  tSger  swa  swa  enoch  on  orsorhnysse  wuna'S  . 

fortSan  Ipe  ndn  gastlic  Idc  nis  gode  swa  gecweme 

swa  him  biS  ])(Bt  man  winne  witS  unriht-wis-nysse  symle  64 

for  manna  rihtinge  .  mid  man-J?w8ernysse  swa  tJeah  . 

and  mid  gemetfsestnysse  .  and  mild-heortnysse  . 

pcet  man  unriht  alecge  .  and  godes  riht  arsere  . 

swa  swa  helias  se  witega  .  wan  wiS  unriht[wis  ^Jnysse  .  68 

d^cet  god  hine  ferode  on  fyrenum  craete  to  heofonum  . 

41.  D.  bilehwitnesse.  48.  U.  ehtnesse.  D.U.  untruwinesse. 

42.  D.  ehtnesse.  U.  bearna;  D.  beame. 

43.  U.  iisende.  50.  U.  miclum. 

44.  D.U.  dseges.     U.  ^wealde.  51.  U.  innewerdre ;  D.  innewserdre. 

45.  D.  sunus;    U.  suna  (altered  to  52.  D.  ^an. 

sunas).     D.  4dc.  55.  D.U.  man])wsemysse. 

46.  D.  untrumnesse  geswaencte.  56,  D.U.  cyninge. 

47.  D.U.  iob.  57.  D.>us  cwa'S. 

^  Leaf  76.  2  Above  the  line. 


XVI.    MEMORY  OF  THE   SAINTS.  341 

and  in  his  innocence  unto  his  life's  end, 

or  whether  he  would  turn  from  God  through  the  exceeding  persecution 

which  the  envious  devil  sent  him. 

Thereupon  the  devil  in  one  day  slew  all  his  cattle,  44 

and  his  seven  sons,  and  three  daughters,  and  likewise  afterward 

afflicted  himself  with  an  awful  sickness; 

but  the  constant  Job  would  never  swerve  from  God's  love, 

neither  for  persecution,  nor  for  sickness,  nor  for  the  loss  of  his 
bairns,  48 

neither  spake  he  one  foolish  word  against  God, 

but  with  great  patience  he  ever  thanked  God 

and  from  his  inward  heart  ever  praised  his  Lord. 

Then  God  healed  him  of  that  awful  affliction,  52 

and  repaid  him  all  his  possessions  by  twofold, 

and  he  then  lived  happily,  because  he  had  overcome  the  devil. 
David  for  his  meekness  and  mildheartedness 

was  pleasing  to  God,  and  was  chosen  king,  56 

so  that  God  Himself  spake  thus  concerning  him, 

'I  have  found  Me  David,  Jesse's  son,  after  mine  heart, 

who  shall  perform  my  will  by  his  works. 

Again  Elias,  the  noble  prophet,  because  he  combated  against 
unrighteousness,  60 

was  taken  up  to  Heaven  in  a  heavenly  chariot, 

and  there,  like  Enoch,  dwelleth  securely; 

because  no  ghostly  offering  is  so  pleasing  to  God, 

as  [that]  is  to  Him,  that  a  man  alway  strive  against  unrighteous- 
ness, 64 

for  men's  correction,  yet  nevertheless  with  meekness, 

and  with  sobriety,  and  mildheartedness, 

that  one  may  put  down  wrong,  and  raise  up  God's  right, 

even  as  the  prophet  Elias  strove  against  unrighteousness  68 

until  that  God  took  him  in  a  fiery  chariot  to  heaven 

58,  D.  iesses,  63.  D.U.  nan.     U.  lac. 

69.  D.  se  minne.     D.  gefrenim'5.  64,  68.  D.  unrihtwisnesse. 

60.  D.  elias.     D.U.  wann.     D.  un-  66.  D.  gemetfestnesse.        D.  mild- 
rihtwisnesse.  heortnesse. 

61.  U.  heofonlican.  68.  D.U.  wann. 
63.  D.  enoh.     D.  orsorhnesse.  69.  D.  crate. 


342  XVI.     SERMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

fram  eallum  ehtnyssum  Jjyssere  y^egan  worulde  . 

Eac  swilce  pa  tSry  cnihtas  on  chaldea  lande  . 

sidrddc  .  misdac  .  and  abdenago  .  J^e  for  (San  soSan  geleafan     72 

on  J)am  byrnendan  ofne  gebundene  wurdon 

to  cwale  aworpene  .  ac  him  sona  cydde  god 

hwylcne  geleafan  hi  haefdon  .  Jja  t5a  se  lig  ne  moste 

furSon  heora  fax  forswselan  on  J^am  ade  .  76 

ac  hi  ealle  ut  eodon  ansunde  to  tJam  cynincge  . 

Eal  swa  eft  danihel  se  deorwurtSa  witega  . 

for  his  anfealdnysse  and  anrsedum  geleafan 

weartS  tua  aworpen  .  Tpnrh.  tSa  wodan  chaldeiscan  80 

into  [tSara^]  leona  seatSum  .  ac  hi  leofodon  be  hungre 

seofon  niht  metelease  .  and  ne  mihton  him  derian  . 

Manega  otSre  heah-fsederas  and  halige  witegan  . 

"wseron  wuldor-fulle  weras  .  and  wundra  gefremedon  84 

on  Tpsere  ealdan  .  se  .  and  hi  ealle  cyddon 

mid  wordum  .  o'StSe  mid  weorcum  .  pcet  se  wuldor-fulla  hselend  . 

wolde  us  alysan  fram  helle  wite  t5urh  hine  sylfne  . 

Eft  us  secgaS  b6c  .  hu  tSa  synfullan  forferdon  88 

and  (5a  arleasan  sefre  for  heora  yfelnysse  ^losodon  . 

fortSan  Jje  god  is  swa  rihtwis  .  pcet  pa.  rihtwisan  men 

ne  beoS  bereafode  heora  rihtwisnysse  mede  . 

Ne  eft  t5a  arleasan  pe  hine  mid  yfelnysse  gremiacS  .  93 

ne  magon  nsefre  getwindan  tSam  ecum  witum  ahwar  . 

Eft  on  ]?8es  hselendes  tocyme  wearS  se  halga  iohannes 

setforan  him  asend  swa  swa  heofonlic  bydel  . 

pcet  he  cristes  wegas  geriht-lsehte  mid  wordum  .  96 

and  to  rihtum  weorcum  gewende  pa,  leode  . 

Witegung  .  and  seo  ealde  .  ee  .  wunodon  ol^pcet  . 

70.  D.  })ysre,     D.U.  yjiigan.  cyninge, 

72.  D.  sidr^c.  mis^c.  ■)  abdenago ;  78.  U.  eall.     U.  daniel.     D.  deor- 

U,  Sidrac.  Misac.  et  Abdenago.     U.  urSra. 

])am.  79.  D.  anfealdnesse.     D.  geleafum. 

74.  IT.  cydde  god  sona.  80,  U.  tuwa ;  D.  tuw^, 

75.  D.  sefdon.     D.  lig.  81.  U.  inn  to,    D.U.  om.  'iSara.    D. 

76.  D.  hire  feax.     D.  ^an  Me.  leofodan.     D.  hungrae. 

77.  U.  hi.       D.   to  «an.       D.U,  82.  U.  seofan, 

^  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  76,  back. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  343 

from  all  the  persecutions  of  this  billowy  world. 

Likewise  the  three  youths  in  the  Chaldean  land, 
Shadrach,  Meshach,  and  Abednego,  who  for  the  true  faith       72 
were  bound  in  the  burning  oven, 

and  condemned  to  death,  but  God  quickly  showed  forth  in  them 
what  faith  they  had,  when  the  flame  could  not 
bum  even  their  hair  in  that  pyre;  76 

but  they  all  went  out,  uninjured,  to  the  king. 

Likewise  again  Daniel,  the  noble  prophet, 
for  his  simplicity  and  constant  faith, 

was  twice  thrown  by  the  furious  Chaldeans  80 

into  the  lions'  pit,  but  they  lived  in  hunger 
seven  nights  meatless,  and  might  not  hurt  him. 

Many  other  patriarchs  and  holy  prophets 
were  glorious  men,  and  performed  miracles  84 

under  the  Old  Law,  and  they  all  set  forth 
by  words,  or  by  works,  that  the  glorious  Saviour 
would  redeem  us  from  hell-torment  by  Himself. 

Again,  books  tell  us  how  the  sinful  have  perished,  88 

and  [how]  the  wicked  are  lost  eternally  for  their  evilness, 
because  God  is  so  righteous  that  righteous  men 
shall  not  be  bereaved  of  the  reward  of  their  righteousness. 
Nor  again,  may  the  wicked,  who  anger  Him  by  their  evilness,  9a 
ever  in  any  wise  escape  from  the  eternal  torments. 

Afterward,  at  the  Saviour's  advent,  was  the  holy  John 
sent  before  Him  as  a  heavenly  herald, 

that  he  by  his  words  might  make  straight  Christ's  ways,         96 
and  convert  the  people  to  right  works. 
Prophecy,  and  the  Old  Law,  continued  until  that  time, 

83.  D.  o'SSre.  D.  medae. 

86.  D.  wuldorfulle.  92.  D.  yfelnesse. 

87.  D.  wlte.  93.  U.  om.  Sam.     D.  ]>&  eceum.  D. 

88.  D.U.  bee,  ahwser. 

89.  D.  yfelnesse.  96.  U.  mid  wordum  geriht-laehte. 

90.  U.  menn.  98.  U.  wunode. 

91.  D.  hyra.       D.U.  rihtwisnesse. 


344  XVI.    SEKMO   DE   MEMOEIA   SANCTOUUM. 

and  iohannes  astealde  pa  stitSan  drohtnunge 
on  |78ere  niwan  gecytSnysse  swa  swa  crist  him  gewissode  .        loo 
and  he  wses  segcSer  ge  selic  .  ge  godspellic  . 
swa  swa  gemaeru  betwux  moysen  and  us^  . 
swa  anrgede  godes  man  .  pcet  god  sylf  cwsetJ  be  him  . 
pcet  nan  maerra  man  nses  on  middanearde  104 

acenned  of  were  and  of  wife  .  |?us  hine  wortSode  god ; 
hwaet  'Sa  ure  hselend  ]?ses  heofonlican  godes  sunu 
cydde  his  mycclan  lufe  Ipe  he  to  us  mannum  heefde  . 
swa  pcet  he  wearS  acenned  of  anum  claenan  msedene  108 

butan  weres  gemanan  .  and  mann  weartS  gesewen 
on  sawle  .  and  on  lichaman  .  sotS  god  .  and  so?5  man  . 
to  t5y  .  pcet  he  us  alysde  pa,  ?Se  gelyfatS  on  hine 
fram  'Sam  ecan  deat5e  .  mid  his  unscyldigan  deatSe  .  112 

Be  J?am  we  magon  to-cnawan  cristes  eadmodnysse  . 
pcet  se  healica  god  hine  sylfne  swa  ge-eadmette  . 
pcet  he  t5am  deacSe  under-hnah  and  Jjone  deofol  oferswy'Sde 
mid  jjsere  menniscnysse  and  mancynn  swa  alysde  .  116 

He  is  ofer  ealle  Jjincg  selmihtig  scyppend  . 
and  he  wolde  swatSeah  wite  'Srowian  for  us  . 
nu  is  his  eadmodnys  us  unwitSmetenlic  . 

fortSan  pe  we  synd  synfulle  and  sceolan  beon  eadmode  .  120 

wille  we  .  nelle  we  .  and  he  wolde  sylf-willes 
us  syllan  Sa  bysne  .  swa  swa  he  sylf  cwseS  . 
Discite  a  me  quia  mitis  sum  et  humilis  corde  .  et  inuenie^is  re- 
quiem animabus  ues^ris  .  [Jjset  is  on  englisc;'^] 
LeorniatS  set  me  pcet  ic  manjjwsere  eom  .  124 

and  eadmod  on  heortan  .  and  ge  gemetatS  reste 
eowrum  sawlum  .  pis  ssede  drihten; 
Ne  het  he  us  na  leornian  heofonas  to  wyrcenne  . 
ac  het  us  beon  eadmode  pcet  we  to  heo^fonum  becomon  .         128 

100.  U.  om.  from  swa  swa  to  god-           104,  U.   mann.     D.  mannes   (for 

spellic  inl.  loi.  man  naes). 

10 r.  D.  selic.  105.  D.  })urh  ])aet  (/or  ])us). 

102,  U.  moyse.  106,  D.  J)as. 

103.  U.  mann.  109.  D.  buton.   D.  weras.   D.  man. 

'  This  line  is  struck  through  in  the  MS.         '  Above  the  line.         '  Leaf  77. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  345 

and  John  established  the  ascetic  life 

in  the  New  Testament,  as  Christ  instructed  him,  loo 

and  he  belonged  both  to  the  Law  and  to  the  Gospel, 

like  a  landmark  between  Moses  and  us, 

so  constant  a  man  of  God,  that  God  Himself  said  of  him, 

that  no  greater  man  was  there  upon  earth,  104 

born  of  man  and  of  woman;    thus  God  honoured  him. 

Behold  then,  our  Saviour,  the  Son  of  the  heavenly  God, 
showed  forth  His  great  love  which  He  had  to  us  men, 
so  that  He  was  born  of  a  pure  virgin,  108 

without  man's  commerce,  and  was  manifested  as  Man, 
in  soul  and  in  body,  Very  God  and  Very  Man, 
to  the  end  that  He  might  redeem  those  of  us  who  believe  in  Him 
from  the  eternal  death,  by  His  guiltless  death.  na 

Thereby  we  may  perceive  Chxist's  humility, 
in  that  the  high  God  so  humbled  Himself, 
that  He  stooped  to  that  death,  and  overcame  the  devil 
by  that  incarnation,  and  so  redeemed  mankind;  116 

He  is  over  all  things,  Almighty  Creator, 
and  He  would  nevertheless  suffer  punishment  for  us. 
Now  is  His  humility  incomparable  with  ours, 
because  we  are  sinful,  and  ought  to  be  humble,  120 

will  we,  nill  we;   and  He  would  of  His  own  will 
give  us  the  example,  even  as  He  Himself  said, 
'  Discite  a  me,  quia  mitis  sfu/m  el  humUis  corde,  et  invenietis  re- 
quiem animabus  vestris ;'  [that  is  in  English:] 
'  Learn  of  Me,  for  I  am  meek  1 24 

and  lowly  in  heart,  and  ye  shall  find  rest 
unto  your  souls ; '   thus  said  the  Lord. 

He  did  not  bid  us  learn  to  make  the  heavens  [do  great  things], 
but  He  bade  us  be  humble,  that  we  might  get  to  heaven,     128 

no.  U.  mann.  1 18.  TJ.  wfte.     D.U.  us. 

111.  D.  gelefaS.  120.  D.  forSamSe.     D.U.  sceolon. 

112.  U.  om.  6am;  D.  "San.  U.  ea'Smode, 

113.  D.  Be  ^an.    D.  eadmodnesse.  122.  D.  sellan. 

114.  ge-ea^mette  U.  123.  D.U.  om.  }j3et  is  on  englisc. 

116.  D.maBnniscnesse.  D.U.mancyn,  127.  D.  na  us. 

117.  'D.JJ.]>mg.     D.  sceppend.  128.  U.  becumon. 


346  XVI.     SERMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

for(5an  ]?e  pa  modigan  ne  magon^  to  heofonum  . 

Crist  clypode  on  his  bodunge  .  and  cwsetS  to  eallum  mannum  . 

Penitentiam  agite  adpropinquabit  enim  regnum  caelorum  .  [pcet 

is  on  englisc  ;  ^] 
WyrcatS  dsedbote  eowra  mis-dseda  .  132 

forSan  J?e  heofonan  rice  efne  genealaechtJ  . 
Crist  ferde  tSa  abutan  geond  pa.  ludeiscan  byrig 
bodigende  godspel  .  and  cSa  blindan  onlihte 

and  ealle  untrumnysse '  and  adla  gehselde  .  136 

His  hlisa  asprang  J?a  to  Syrian  lande  . 
and  man  ferode  untrume*  feorran  and  nean  . 
myslice  geuntrumode  .  and  monacS-seoce  .  and  wode  . 
and  eac  swilce  beddrydan  .  and  brobton  to  (Sam  hselende  .      140 
and  he  hi  ealle  gehselde  fortSan  pe  he  heelend  is  . 
pas  ylcan  mihte  he  forgeaf  his  mseran  apostolum  . 
p<^t  hi  mihton  gehselan  on  tSses  hselendes  naman 
ealle  untrumnyssa  .  and  eac  Sa  deadan  arseran  .  144 

and  aclsensian  ?Sa  hreoflian  swa  swa  crist  sylf  dyde  . 
Twelf  apostolas  waeron  pe  wunedon  mid  him  , 
and  twa  and  bund  seofontig  he  geceas  him  to  bydelum  . 
J?a  ferdon  twam  .  and  twam  .  setforan  him  gehwyder  .  148 

pas  feower  and  hundeahtatig  pe  folgodon  tSam  hselende  . 
synd  t5a  grund-weallas  on  godes  gelacSunge 
and  pa  fyrmestan  bydelas  .  and  hi  ure  b6c  setton  . 
swa  swa  hi  geleornedon  set  heora  lareowe  criste  .  152 

and  heora  Ur  becom  to  'Sam  ytemestum  landum  . 
Hit  gelamp  J)a  sume  daeg  .  t5a  tSa  se  hselend  siSode  . 
pcet  sum  man  him  cwseS  to  .  Ic  wille  sijjian  mid  tSe  . 
and  t5e  folgian  swa  hwider  swa  tSu  fserst .  156 

1 30.  D.  om.  to  eallum  mannum.  1 36,  D.  ealla,     D.U.  untrumnyssa. 

131.  D.  appropinquabit.      D.  celo-       D.  gehaeklje. 
Tum.     D.U,  om.  })8et  is  on  englisc.  137.  U.  bllsa. 

133.  U.  heofona.     D.  genealaecS;  138.  D.  neah ;  IT.  near. 

U.  genealsehS.  139.  D.  monoSseoce.     U.  w<5de. 

134.  U.  ferda.  D.  iudeiscean  burga.  140.  U,  bedridan;  D.  bedrydan. 

135.  D.  bodiende.     U.  god-spell. 

^  cuman  naefre  is  added  above  the  line.  "  Above  the  line. 

'  onlihte  added  above  the  line.  *  menn  added  above  the  line. 


XVI.     MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  347 

because  the  proud  can  never  get  to  heaven. 

Christ  cried  in  His  preaching,  and  said  to  all  men, 

'  Penitentiam  agite,  adpropinquahit  enim  regnum  caelorum* ;  that 

is  in  English, 
*  "Work  deeds  of  penance  for  your  misdeeds,  13  a 

for  behold  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  draweth  near.' 
Christ  then  went  about  throughout  all  the  Jewish  cities, 
preaching  the  Gospel,  and  enlightened  the  blind, 
and  healed  all  sicknesses  and  all  diseases.  136 

His  fame  spread  then  to  the  land  of  Syria, 
and  they  brought  the  sick  from  far  and  near, 
diversely  afflicted,  and  lunatics,  and  men  possessed, 
and  likewise  the  bedridden,  and  brought  [them]  to  the  Saviour,  140 
and  He  healed  them  all,  for  that  He  is  the  Healer. 
These  same  powers  He  gave  to  His  great  apostles, 
that  they  might  heal,  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
all  sicknesses,  and  also  raise  the  dead,  144 

and  cleanse  the  lepers,  even  as  Christ  Himself  did. 
There  were  twelve  apostles  who  abode  with  him, 
and  two  and  seventy  He  chose  Him  as  preachers, 
who  went,  by  two  and  two,  before  Him  everywhere.  148 

These  four  and  eighty  who  followed  the  Saviour, 
are  the  foundations  in  God's  Church, 
and  the  foremost  preachers,  and  they  wrote  our  books, 
even  as  they  had  learned  from  their  master  Christ,  152 

and  their  lore  came  to  the  uttermost  lands. 
Then  it  befell  one  day  as  the  Saviour  journeyed, 
that  a  certain  man  said  to  Him,  'I  will  go  with  Thee, 
and  follow  Thee  whithersoever  Thou  goest.'  156 

141.  U,  hi.     D.  gehelde  forSam  Se  151.  U.  W.     D.  bee. 

he  i3  hselend.  152,  U.  hi.    D.U.  geleomodon.    D. 

142.  D.  mihta.     U.  maerum.  hyra, 

143.  D.  gehaelen,  153.  D.  J)a  becom.     U.  ytemystum. 

144.  D,  untrumnesse.     D.  4ic.  D.  lande. 

146.  D.  wunoden;  U.  wunodon.  154.  D.  dsege. 

148.  D.  aetforen.  155.  U.  mann.    \J .  inserts  me  after 

149.  U.  hund-eahtitig.  si]7ian. 


318  XVI.    SEEMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

Da  cw8e(5  se  haelend  him  to  .  Foxas  habbatS  holu  . 

and  fugelas  habbatS  nest  .  and  ic  nsebbe  wununge 

hwider  ic  min  heafod  ahyldan  msege  . 

Crist  sceawode  his  heortan  and  geseah  his  prgettas  .  i6o 

fortSan  Ipe  he  mid  socSfsestnysse  ne  sohte  Ipone  haelend  . 

ac  foxunga  wseron  wunigende  on  him  . 

and  up-ahefednys  swilce  healice  fugelas  . 

Sa  ne  mihte  swilc  mann  sicSian  mid  crista  .  164 

Crist  eft  pa  si'StSan  .  cwsecS  to  sumum  oSrum  . 

Fylig  me  on  minre  fare  ,  and  he  afyrht  andwyrde  . 

Lset  me  serest  drihten  ardlice  faran  . 

and  minne  feeder  bebyrigan  .  pa  cwsetJ  crist  to  )7am  menn  ^  eft  .    168 

Gej^afa  p(xt  pa.  deadan  heora  deadan  bebyrion  . 

gang  t5u  sylf  soSlice  .  and  godes  rice  boda  . 

pa  synd  so^lice  deade  pe  heora  scyppende  ne  tSeowiatS  . 

and  t5a  pe  godes  beboda  mid  biggengum  ne  healdacS  .  172 

|3as  magon  bebyrigan  j^yllice  oSre  . 

and  mid  lyffetungum  to  leahtrum  gehnexian  . 

pa  cwsec5  sum  J^ridda  man  to  criste  eft  t5us  . 

ic  wylle  fylian  pe  leof  .  ac  Iset  me  aerest  faran  .  176 

and  cytSan  minum  hiwum  hu  ic  hsebbe  gemynt  . 

Him  andwyrde  J5us  se  hselend  .  Gif  se  yrSlincg  behylt 

under -bsec  gelome  .  ne  bi'S  he  gehmplic  tilia  . 

pcet  is  on  tSisum  andgite  .  Swa  swa  se  yrSlincg  amyrcS 

his  furuh  gif  he  loca'S  to  lange  under-bsec  . 

swa  eac  seJe  wile  gewendan  to  gode  . 

and  bihtS  eft  to  woruld-J^ingum  ne  bitS  he  gode  and-fencge  . 

Msenigfealde  wseron  ]?ges  heelendes  wundra  ,  184 

and  his  halige  Mr  swa  we  leorniatS  on  bocum  . 

and  ealle  his  folgeras  forleton  ealle  J^incg  . 

159.  D.  mage.  169,  D.  hira.    D.  bebyrian;  U.  be- 

161.  D.  sotJfaestnesse.  byrgon. 

162.  D.  wuniende.  171.  D.  hyra  sceppende. 

163.  U.  upahefednyss.  172.  D.  higengnm. 

164.  D.  man.  173.  D.  mago.    U.  bebyrigean ;  D. 
168.    D.    bebyrian;    U.  bebyrgan.       bebyrian. 

D.  men;  U.  o?w.  menn.  174.  U.  lyffetunge. 

*  Leaf  77,  back. 


XVI.    MEMORY    OF  THE   SAINTS.  349 

Then  said  the  Saviour  to  him,  'Foxes  have  holes, 

and  birds  have  nests,  and  I  have  no  dwelling, 

where  I  may  recline  my  head.' 

Christ  looked  into  his  heart,  and  saw  his  craftiness,  160 

because  he  sought  not  the  Saviour  with  sincerity, 

but  foxlike  wiles  were  dwelling  in  him, 

aud  haughtiness,  like  unto  soaring  birds; 

for  such  a  man  might  not  journey  with  Christ.  164 

Christ  again  after  that  said  to  another, 

'Follow  me  in  my  way;'  and  he,  affrighted,  answered, 

'Let  me  first,  Lord,  go  quickly, 

and  bury  my  father.'     Then  said  Christ  again  to  that  man,    168 

'Suffer  that  the  dead  bury  their  dead, 

but  go  thou  thyself  indeed,  and  preach  God's  kingdom.' 

Those  are  verily  dead  who  serve  not  their  Creator, 

and  who  keep  not  God's  commandments  devoutly;  173 

these  may  bury  such-like  others, 

and  yield  to  sins  by  means  of  flatteries. 

Then  again  a  third  man  said  thus  to  Christ ;  . 

'  I  will  follow  Thee,  master,  but  let  me  first  go  1 76 

and  tell  my  family  how  I  have  purposed  (to  do).' 

Him  the  Saviour  answered  thus,  'If  the  husbandman  look 

oftentimes  backward,  he  will  be  no  fitting  tiller;' 

that  is  in  this  sense ;  as  the  husbandman  marreth  his  furrow      180 

if  he  looketh  too  long  backward, 

so  likewise  he  who  desireth  to  turn  to  God, 

and  inclineth  again  to  worldly  things,  will  not  be  acceptable  to 

God. 
Manifold  were  the  Saviour's  miracles,  184 

and  His  holy  doctrines,  as  we  learn  in  books, 
and  all  his  followers  forsook  all  things, 

175.  U.  mann.  183.  U.  worold-Singum.      V.and- 

176.  D.  folgian  (/or  fylian).  fenge  gode.     D.  andfenge. 
178.  DU.  yr^ling.     D.  behealt.  184,  U.  Menigfealde. 

180.  D.U.  yrSling.  185.  D.  halie.     U.  lar. 

181.  D.U.  furh.  186.  D.U.  |>ing. 

182.  D.  gewsendan. 


350  XVI.    SERMO    DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

eegtSer  ge  wif  .  ge  sehta  .  and  wunodon  on  cljennysse  . 

for  his  fsegeran  behate  .  and  for  heofonaa  rice  .  188 

Eft  sefter  his  seriste  and  up-stige  to  heofonum  . 

J)aJ?a  se  geleafa  aras  and  man  alede  deofolgyld  . 

\>&  wurdon  tSa  halgan  martiras  swa  micclum  onbryrde  . 

pcet  hi  sweltan  woldon  serSan  pe  hi  wicSsocon  gode  .  192 

and  heora  lif  aleton  sertSan  }?e  heora  geleafan  . 

and  wurdon  ofslagene  for  tJam  sotSan  geleafan  . 

fela  }5usenda  martira  on  myslicum  witum  . 

and  hi  habba'S  J)a  ecan  myrhtSe  for  heora  martyrdome  .  196 

Se  arleasa  deofol  pe  is  sefre  embe  yfel  . 

astyrode  ]3a  ehtnysse  tSurh  arlease  cwelleras  . 

and  wolde  mid  siege  oferswit5an  pa  cristenan  . 

and  godes  geleafan  alecgan  gif  he  milfte  .  200 

ac  swa  man  md  ofsloh  .  swa  |38er  ma  gelyfdon 

Surh  }?a  micclan  wundra  pe  'Sa  martyras  gefremedon  . 

Eft  SacSa  god  sealde  sibbe  his  gelatSunge  . 

pa.  wolde  se  deofol  mid  gedwylde  amyrran  ]3one  sotSan  geleafan .  204 

and  seow  (Sa  gedwyld  on  dyrstigum  mannum  . 

an  tSaera  wses  arrius  pe  pcet  yfel  ongann  . 

ac  him  eode  se  innocS  ut  set  his  fortS-gange  . 

Manega  wseron  eac  pe  myslice  dwelodon  .  ao8 

otS  pcet  Jja  halgan  fsederas  heora  yfel  adwsescton  . 

and  Jjone  so|7an  geleafan  gesetton  tSiirh  god  . 

swa  swa  se  hselend  hine  ^tsehte  his  halgum  apostolum; 

pa  wseron  halige  bisceopas  gehealtsume  on  )?eawum  .  212 

and  wise  msesse-preostas  pe  wunodon  on  clsennysse  . 

and  manega  munecas  on  mycelre  drohtnunge  . 

and  clsene  maedenu  pe  criste  Jjeowodon 

on  gastlicre  drohtnunge  for  heora  drihtnes  lufan  .  216 


187.  D.U.  wif.     D.  clsennesse.  D.  ofslagena. 

191.  U.  miclum.  195.  U.  Jjusend, 

192.  U.  hi  swyltan  woldan.    U.  hi.  196.  U.  M.      D.  ecean.       D.  hyra. 
U.  god.  U.  martirdoma. 

193.  D.  hyra.  D.U.  Aleton.  D.  hyra.  197.  D.  ymbe. 

194.  D.U.  insert  ^a  after  wurdon.  200.  D.  alecgean. 

1  Leaf  78. 


XVI.    MEMOEY   OP  THE   SAINTS.  351 

both  wives  and  possessions,  and  lived  in  chastity, 

for  His  fair  pi'omises,  and  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  188 

Again,  after  His  resurrection  and  ascension  into  Heaven, 
when  the  faith  was  increasing,  and  men  laid  aside  devil-worship, 
then  were  the  holy  martyrs  so  greatly  inspired 
that  they  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  deny  God,  19a 

and  laid  down  their  lives  rather  than  their  faith, 
and  were  slain  for  the  true  faith, 
many  thousand  martyrs  by  various  tortures, 
and  they  have  the  eternal  mirth  in  return  for  their  martyrdom.  196 
The  wicked  devil,  who  is  ever  (employed)  about  evil, 
stirred  up  persecution  by  impious  murderers, 
and  desired  by  slaughter  to  overcome  the  Christians, 
and  put  down  God's  faith,  if  so  he  might,  200 

but  the  more  men  slew,  the  more  believed, 
through  the  mighty  wonders  which  the  martyrs  wrought. 

Afterward,  when  God  gave  peace  to  His  church, 
then  desired  the  devil  to  mar  the  true  faith  by  heresy,  204 

and  sowed  heresy  in  presumptuous  men. 
One  of  those  was  Arius,  who  began  that  evil, 
but  his  bowels  gushed  out  at  the  draught. 
Many  there  were  beside  who  diversely  erred,  ao8 

until  the  holy  Fathers  quenched  their  evil, 
and  formulated  the  true  faith  by  God's  help, 
even  as  the  Saviour  taught  it  to  His  holy  apostles. 
Then  were  there  holy  bishops,  frugal  in  their  manners,  213 

and  wise  mass-priests  who  lived  in  chastity, 
and  many  monks  of  excellent  conduct, 
and  pure  maidens  who  served  Christ 
in  spiritual  service,  for  their  Lord's  love;  «i6 


201.  D.  ma,     U.  ofsloh.  D.U.  ma.           212.  D.  halie.    D.U.  gehealdsume. 
U.  gellfdon.  213.  D.  msessepreostes.       D.  clsen- 

202.  U.  miclan.  nesse. 

206.  D.  Sara.  214.  U,  inserts  for  heora  drihtnes 

207.  D.U.  ut.  lufan  after  drohtnunge. 

208.  D.U.  dweledon.  215.  U.  Jjeowdon. 

209.  D.  hyra.    U.  adwa?sctan.  216.  D.  hire.    D.  lufon. 


352  XVI.    SERMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

and  ??a  synd  nu  ealle  on  J?am  ecan  wuldre 

for  heora  clsennysse  mid  criste  wunigende  . 

Nu  on  urum  dagum  on  ende  fjyssere  worulde  . 

BwicacS  se  deofol  digollice  embe  us  .  220 

hu  he  ]3urh  leahtras  forlsere  tSa  cristenan  . 

and  to  mislicum  synnum  heora  mod  awende  . 

ac  tSa  beotS  gesaelige  pe  his  swic-domas  to-cnawat5  . 

and  his  lot-wrencas  mid  geleafan  ofer-swy'SatS  .  224 

He  wet  nu  switSe  and  wynt5  on  tSa  cristenan  . 

fortSan  J?e  he  wat  geare  pcet  j^ysre  worulde  geendung 

is  swytSe  gehende  .  and  he  on-et  for(5i  . 

"We  sceolan  eac  onettan  and  urum  sawlum  gehelpan  .  228 

J?urh  g(5de  biggengas  gode  to  gecwemednysse  . 

forSan  Tpe  we  ne  motan  lange  on,  t5ysum  life  beon  . 

And  \}cet  is  godes  mildheortnyss  .  Jjeah  Se  hit  digle  sy  . 

On  anginne  Sissere  worulde  )?a]?a  heo  wynsum  wses  .  232 

and  menn  moston  lybban  be  heora  lustum  Sa  . 

J?a  wses  langsum  lif  .  swa  ])oet  hi  leofodon 

surae  nigon  hund  geara  .  on  tSaera  heah-fsedera  timan  . 

sume  eahta  hund  geara  .  and  sume  eac  leng  .  236 

Nu  is  ure  lif  ungelic  heora  . 

fortSan  pe  we  ne  moton  lybban  be  urum  lustum  nu  . 

ac  we  sceolan  gehyrsumian  ures  hselendes  bebodum  . 

and  mid  earfo'Snyssum  Ipcet  ece  lif  geearnian  .  240 

and  seo  earfot5nys  ongan  on  tSsere  godspell-bodunge  . 

Nu  haefS  god  eac  gescyrt  swyj^e  ure  dagas 

swylce  h^  swa  cwsede  .  Ne  sceole  ge  swincan  to  lange  . 

ac  beocS  eow  anrsede  to  pam  ecan  life  .  244 

jJser'Sser  ge  butan  geswince  gesaelige  lybba"S  . 

Nu  synd  <5reo  heah-maegnu  .  'Se  menn  sceolan  habban  . 

217.  D.  "San  ecean.     U.  ^can.  223.  D.  gesaelice. 

218.  D.  hyra  clsennesse.      D.  wuni-  224.  D.  -wrsenceas. 
ende.  225.  D.  wedt  (sic). 

219.  D.  Sisre.  226.  D.U.  w^t.  U.  fyssere  worolde. 

220.  U.  swiwcaS.        D.U.  digellice.  228.  U.  sculon  ;  D.  sceolon. 

D.  ymbe  lis.  229.  D.  blgiengas.  U.  cwemednysse. 

222.  D,  mistlicuw.     D.  hyra  mod  230.  D.U.  moton, 

avvsende. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF   THE   SAINTS.  353 

and  these  all  now,  for  their  purity,  are  dwelling 

with  Christ  in  everlasting  glory. 

Now  in  our  days,  in  the  end  of  this  world, 

the  devil  secretly  layeth  snares  about  us,  220 

how  he  by  vices  may  seduce  Christians, 

and  turn  their  minds  to  divers  sins ; 

but  those  are  happy  who  discern  his  snares, 

and  by  faith  overcome  his  cunning  deceits.  224 

Now  he  rageth  furiously,  and  warreth  on  Christians, 

because  he  knoweth  well  that  this  world's  ending 

is  very  nigh  at  hand,  and  therefore  he  maketh  haste. 

"We  should  likewise  hasten,  and  help  our  souls  228 

by  good  services  to  the  pleasing  of  God, 

because  we  may  not  exist  long  in  this  life; 

and  that  is  [by]  God's  mercy,  although  it  be  secret. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  world,  when  it  was  winsome,  232 

and  men  might  live  therein  according  to  their  desires, 

then  life  was  prolonged  so  that  men  lived 

some  nine  hundred  years  in  the  patriarchs'  times, 

some  eight  hundred  years,  and  some  even  longer.  236 

Now  is  our  life  unlike  to  theirs, 
I      because  we  may  not  now  live  after  our  lusts, 

but  we  have  to  obey  our  Saviour's  commands, 
1     and  earn  by  labour  the  everlasting  life;  240 

and  that  labour  began  in  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 

Now  hath  God  also  greatly  shortened  our  days, 

even  as  He  so  said;    'Ye  shall  not  labour  too  long, 

but  be  ye  steadfast  unto  the  eternal  life,  244 

L    where  ye  shall  live  happy  without  labour.' 

Now  there  are  three  Chief  Virtues,  which  men  must  have, 

231.  D.  mildheortnisse.     D.  dfgle.  239.  U.  sculon  ;  D.  sceolon. 

232.  D.  tSysre;  U.  Jjysse.  240.  U.  ^ce.     D.U.  lif. 

733,  D.  men.     D.  hyra.  241.  U.  \)cet  (for  and).   D.ear^Sfo'S- 

234.  U.  hi.  nesse.     U.  ongann.    D.U.  godepel-bo- 

235.  D.  geare.    V.  om.  from  on  to      dunge. 

geara  in  1.  236.  243.  D.U.  he. 

236.  D.  Iseng.  244.  U.  om.  eow.    D.  anrsrde.     D. 

237.  U.  lif  ungelic.  D.  hyra.  San  ecean. 

238.  D.  nii,  246.  D.  men.     D.U.  sceolon. 

23 


354  XVI.     SERMO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

Fides  .  Spes  .  Caritas  .  Ipcet  is  geleafa  .  and  hiht  .  and  seo  sotJe  lufu  . 

pcet  is  se  geleafa  .  Ipcet  he  gelyfe  mid  mode  .  248 

on  ?Sa  halgan  'Srynnysse  .  and  sotSe  annysse; 

and  pcet  is  se  hiht  poet  he  hopige  to  gode  . 

seg'Ser  ge  on  gelimpe  ge  on  unge-limpe  . 

and  nsefre  ne  ortruwige  be  ^godes  arfsestnysse ;  252 

pcet  is  seo  sotSe  lufv  .  pcet  man  his  scyppend  lufige 

mid  tinametenre  lufe  .  and  tSa  menn  }?e  wel  willacS  . 

swa  swa  hine  sylfne  on  sotSfsestnysse  sefre  . 

For  godes  lufon  we  sceolon  eac  lufian  ure  fynd  .  256 

swa  pcet  we  t5one  man  lufian  .  and  his  mis-dseda  onscunian  . 

Us  is  to  under-standenne  Sas  endebyrdnyssa  . 

Crist  cwse(5  on  his  godspelle  .  poet  we  god  lufian  sceolan 

mid  ealre  ure  heortan  ofer  ealle  Sincg  .  260 

and  si?5^an  ure  nextan  swa  swa  us  sylfe  . 

and  eac  ure  fynd  he  het  us  lufian  . 

ac  he  ne  ihte  tSgerto  mid  ealre  heortan  . 

ne  swa  swa  us  sylfe  .  fortSan  pe  him  sotSlice  geniht-sumaS     264 

poet  we  hi  lufian  .  and  IsetSSe  to  nabban  . 

J?eah  Se  we  mid  ealre  heortan  ne  swa  swd  us  sylfe  hi  lufian  , 

Nu  syndon  eahta  heafod-leahtras  .  jje  us  onwinnatS  switSe  . 

An  is  gecwseden  gula  .  poet  is  gyfernyss  on  englisc  .  268 

seo  detS  poet  poet  man  yt  ser  timan  Xand  drinc'S  . 

ocStSe  he  eft  to  micel  nimtS  on  sete  ot5(Se  on  wsete  . 

seo  fordetJ  aegSer  ge  sawle  ge  lichaman  . 

forSan  pe  heo  macatS  J^am  menn  mycele  untrumnysse  .  272 

and  to  deat5e  gebrincgtS  for  'Sam  ^  ormaetan  ^  draence  . 

heo  fordeS  eac  <5a  sawle  .  forSan  he  sceall  syngian  oft* 

Sone  he  sylf  nat  hu  he  fiserS  for  his  feond-licum  drencum  . 

247.  D.  soSo.  256.  D.  feond. 

248.  D.  om.  se.     U.  J)ce<  gelyfa  mid  257.  D.  "Sonne.    D.  lufion. 
moda;  D.  pcet  he  gelefe  mid  mdde.  258.  D.  endebyrdnessa. 

249.  D.  so^a.  259.  D.U.  sceolon. 

252.  D.  arfestnysse.  260.  D.U.  J^ing. 

253.  D.  lufu  ;  A.  lufe,  alt.  to  lufv.  261.  U.  om.  and. 

254.  D.  unamaetenre;    U.    uname-  262.  D.  feond. 
tenre.     D.  lufu.    D.  men.  263.  D.  ehte. 

255.  D.  soSffcstnysse. 

*  Leaf  78,  back.  ^  ^ajn  is  added  above  the  line. 

^  The  n  is  added.  *  The  t  is  added. 


XVI.     MEMORY  OF  THE  SAINTS.  355 

Fides,  Spes,  Caritas,  that  is,  Faith,  and  Hope,  and  true  Charity. 

This  is  Faith,  that  a  man  believe  with  his  mind  248 

in  the  Holy  Trinity  and  Very  Unity; 

and  this  is  Hope,  that  he  hope  in  God, 

both  in  good  and  in  evil  fortune, 

and  never  despair  of  God's  clemency;  252 

This  is  true  Love,  that  a  man  love  his  Creator 

with  unmeasured  love,  and  those  persons  who  wish  [him]  well, 

even  as  [he  loves]  himself,  in  sincerity  for  ever. 

For  God's  love  we  ought  also  to  love  our  enemies,  256 

so  that  we  love  the  man,  and  hate  his  misdeeds. 

It  is  for  us  to  understand  these  ordinances ; 

Christ  said  in  His  Gospel,  that  we  must  love  God 

with  all  our  hearts,  above  all  things ;  260 

and  afterward  our  neighbour  even  as  ourselves; 

and  likewise  He  commanded  us  to  love  our  enemies, 

but  He  added  not  thereto  '  with  all  the  heart,' 

nor  even  'as  ourselves,'  because  it  verily  sufficeth  for  them,  264 

that  we  love  them  and  have  no  hatred  towards  them, 

though  we  love  them  not  with  all  the  heart,  nor  love  them  as 

ourselves. 
Now  there  are  eight  Chief  Sins,  which  sorely  fight  against  us : 
one  is  called  Gula,  that  is,  Gluttony  in  English,  268 

which  maketh  a  man  eat  and  drink  before  the  time,     . 
or  again  to  take  too  much  in  food  or  in  drink. 
This  destroyeth  both  soul  and  body, 

because  it  bringeth  upon  the  man  much  sickness,  272 

and  bringeth  him  to  death  through  immoderate  drinking; 
it  destroyeth  also  the  soul,  because  he  will  often  sin, 
when  he  himself  knoweth  not  how  he  behaveth,  by  reason  of  his 

fiendlike  drink. 

265.  U.  lufion.    D.U.  nabbon.  270.  U.  ^te. 

266.  D.  ])eh  we.     U.  swa  swa.     U.  272.  D.  men.     D.  untrumnesse. 

hi  lufion.    D.  ne  lufian  ne  swa  swa  us  273.  D.U.  gebringtS.      D.U.   mid 

sylfe.  (for  for  Sam).    U.  ormetum  drencum ; 

268.  U.  ^n.     D.  U.  gecweden.  D.  ormsetum  drenceum. 

269.  D.U.  \)at  (once).     U  yt.     D.  274.  D.U.  forSanSe.    D.U,  sceal. 
mar  ser  timan  et  and  drincS.  275.  D.U.  J)onne.     D.  draenceum. 

23-2 


856  XVI.    SERMO   DE  MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

Se  otSer  leahtor  is  forligr  and  unge-metegod  galnyss  .  276 

Se  is  gehaten  fomicatio  .  and  he  befyltS  Jjone  mann  . 

and  macatS  of  cristes  limum  myltestrena  limv  . 

and  of  godes  temple  gramena  wununge  . 

Se  }?ridda  leahter  ^  is  auaritia  .  Tpcet  is  sec  yfele  gitsung  ,       280 

and  sec  is  wyrtruma  selcere  wohnysse  . 

Heo  macaS  reaflac  .  and  unrihte  domas  . 

stala  and  leasunga  .  and  forsworennyssa  . 

heo  is  helle  gelic  .  fortJan  jje  hi  habbatS  butu  284 

unafylledlice  grsedignysse  ])cet  hi  fulle  ne  beotS  naefre  . 

Se  feortJa  leahtor  is  ira  .  "pcet  is  on  englisc  weamodnyss  . 

seo  deS  ^  \)cet  se  man  nah  his  modes  geweald  . 

and  macatS  manslihtas  .  and  mycele  yfelu  .  288 

Se  fifta  is  tristitia  .  \)cet  is  tJissere  worulde  unrotnyss 

pcef^  is^  }5onne  se  man  geunrotsoS  {sic)  ealles  to  swytSe 

for  his  sehta  lyre  \)e  he  lufode  to  swy'Se  . 

and  cid  Jjonne  witS  god  .  and  his  synna  geeac^nat5 .  292 

Twa  unrot-nyssa  synd  .  an  is  J>eos  yfele  . 

andotJeris  halwende  Ipcet  is^Tpcef^  se^  man  for  his  synnum  geunrotsige. 

Se  sixta  leahter  is  accidia  gehaten  . 

pcet  is  asolcennyss  oplpe  slsewS  on  englisc  .  296 

Sonne  tSam  menn  ne  lyst  on  his  life  nan  god  d6n  . 

and  bits  him  ?5onne  my  eel  yfel  Ipcet  he  ne  msege  nan  god  don  . 

and  biS  sefre  ungearu  to  selcere  dugutSe  . 

Se  seofotJa  leahter  is  iactantia  gecweden  .  300 

pcet  is  ydel  gylp  on  sengliscre  sprsece 

pcet  ^  is  ^  tSonne  se  man  bitS  lof-georn  and  mid  licetunge  fgertS . 


276.  U.  leahter.     U.  forliger.  283.    D.  U.    forsworennysse ;     A, 

276,  277.  D.  se  o'Ser  leahter  is  for-  -nysse,  alt  to  -nyssa. 

nicatio  se  is  gehaten  forligr  ~i  unge-  284.  TJ.  hi. 

metegod  galnyss  T  he  beryl's  J)one  man,  285.  TJ.    hi.     D.    nsefre    fuIIe    ne 

27^.  D.  man;  U.  mannan.  beoS. 

278.  U.  myltystryna.    A.  lima,  aZ<.  286,  D.U.  leahter.     D.U.  fra.     D. 
to  limv ;  D.U.  lima.  senglisc.    D.  weadmodnyss  oSSe  yrre. 

279.  D.  wunungse.  288.  D.  manslehtas;  U.  mannslih- 

280.  D.U.  om.  leahter.  D,  auaricia.  tas. 

U.  'Seo  yfele,     D.  gyttsung.  287.  U.  se  deS  ;  D.  om.    V.  mann. 

*  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  79. 


XVI.     MEMORY  OF  THE   SAINTS.  357 

The  second  sin  is  Adultery  and  unbridled  lust;  376 

it  is  called  Fornicatio,  and  it  defileth  the  man, 

and  maketh  of  Christ's  members  the  members  of  harlots, 

and  of  God's  temple  the  dwelling  of  raging  passions. 

The  third  sin  is  Avaritia,  that  is,  evil  Covetousness,  280 

and  it  is  the  root  of  all  wickedness; 

it  causeth  rapine,  and  unrighteous  judgements, 

thefts,  and  leasings,  and  perjuries. 

It  is  like  unto  hell,  because  they  both  have  284 

insatiable  greediness,  so  that  they  can  never  be  full. 

The  fourth  sin  is  Ira,  that  is  in  English,  Anger; 

it  causeth  that  a  man  have  no  power  over  his  mind, 

and  bringeth  about  manslaughters  and  many  evils.  288 

The  fifth  is  Tristitia,  that  is  this  world's  Sorrow; 

this  is  when  a  man  sorroweth  all  too  sorely 

for  the  loss  of  his  goods,  which  he  loved  too  much, 

and  then  chideth  with  God,  and  addeth  to  his  sins.  292 

Two  sorrows  are  there;   one  is  this  evil  [Sorrow], 

and  the  other  is  salutary,  which  is  that  a  man  sorrow  for  his  sins. 

The  sixth  sin  is  called  Accidia, 

that  is,  in  English,  Idleness  or  Sloth,  296 

when  a  man  careth  not  to  do  any  good  in  his  life, 

and  a  great  evil  is  then  his,  that  he  can  never  do  any  good, 

and  is  ever  unready  for  any  virtue. 

The  seventh  sin  is  called  Jactantia,  300 

that  is  in  English  speech.  Vain  Boasting, 

that  is,  when  the  man  is  vain-glorious,  and  hypocritically  goeth 


289.  U.  Se  fifta  leahter.    D.  tristi-  298.  D.  om.  ne.      U.  nu^e  n^n. 
cia.    U.  J)ystre;  D. 'Sysre.    D.U.  un-  D.U.  g<5cl.     D,  ddn. 

rotnys.  299.  D.  ac  {for  and).   D.  ungeare ; 

290.  D.U.  om.  Jjset  is.     A.   Jwne,  U.  ungearo.     U.  aelcre.      D.U.  du- 
alt.  to  J)onne ;  D,  J)onne ;   U.  ^onne.  go'Se. 

U.  mann.     D.U.  geunrotsaS.  300.  D.  seofo'Se.      U.  leahtor.    D. 

292.  D.  cidt;  U.  cit.     D.  synnoe.  iactancia;  U.  ianctantia,  wi7/i  c  aftoi^e 

293.  D.  unrotnessa.  the  line  {in  margin  uana  gloria.) 

294.  D.  halwaende,       D.U.  om.  is  301.  D.U.  engliscre. 

JxjEt  se.     U.  mann.     D.  geunrotsie.  302.  D.U.  om.  \icct  is.       U.  mann. 

296.  D.  asolcennys.     D.  senglisc.  U.   Idfgeom.      U.   {above   licelunge) 

297,  D.  men.    D.U.  g<5d.     U.  dou,  licigunge ;  D.  liccetunge. 


358  XVI.     SERMO    DE    MEMORIA    SANCTORUM. 

and  cle?5  for  gylpe  gif  he  hwset  dselan  wile  . 

and  biS  Jjonne  se  hlisa  his  edlean  ^gere  dsede  304 

and  his  wite  andbidatS  on  tSsere  toweardan  worulde  . 

Seo  eahteoSe  leahter  is  superbia  gehaten  . 

\>cef  is  on  senglisc  modignyss  gecweden  . 

seo  is  ord  and  ende  selcere  synne  .  30S 

seo  geworhte  englas  to  atelicum  deoflum  . 

and  tSone  man  raacacS  eac  gif  he  modigaS  to  swytSe 

]78es  deofles  geferan  tJe  feol  aer  tSurh  hi  . 

Nu  syndon  eahta  heafod-msegnu  .  tSa  magan  ofer-swiSan  312 

}jas  fore-ssedan  deoflu  Jjurh  drihtnes  fultura  . 

An  is  tempevantia  .  Tpcet  is  gemetegung  on  englisc  . 

)3set  ^  is  ^  \)cet  man  beo  gemetegod  and  to  mycel  ne  Siege  . 

on  sete  .  and  on  waete  .  ne  ser  timan  ne  gereordige  ,  316 

Nytenu  aetatS  swa  ser  swa  hi  hit  habba?5  . 

ac  se  gesceadwisa  man  sceal  cepan  his  mseles  . 

and  tJonne  swa^  mid  ge^sceade  his  gesetnysse  healdan  . 

Jjonne  mseg  he  oferswiSan  swa  tSa  gyfernysse  .  320 

Seo  otSer  miht  is  castitas  .  pcei  is  clsennyss  on  senglisc  . 

'pcet  ^  is  ^  ])cet  se  Iseweda  hine  healde  butan  forligre 

on  rihtum  synscipe  mid  gesceadwisnysse  . 

and  se  gehadoda  godes  ?5eowa  healde  his  clsennysse  .  324 

Jjonne  bi(5^  ofer-swytSed  swa  eac  seo  galnyss  . 

Seo  (Srydde  miht  is  largitas  .  'pcet  is  cystignyss  .  on  englisc  . 

Tpcet  ^  is  ^  \>cet  man  wislice  his  ^  sehta  ^  aspende  .  na  for  woruld-gylpe 

J)a  t5incg  Ipe  him  god  laende  .  on  tSysum  life  to  brucenne  .     328 

God  nele  pmt  we  beon  grsedige  gytseras  . 

ne  eac  for  woruld-gylpe  for-wurpan  ure  sehta  . 

304.  D.  hllsa.  D.  dsede.  313.  D.  foresaedon.      D.  godes  (for 

305.  D.U.  wite  anbida'S.       U.  to-  drihtnes).    U.  drihtnes  fylste. 
werdan.  314.  D.  tewperancia. 

306.  D.U.  Se  eahteo'Sa.  U.  leahtor.  315.  D.U.  om.  ])set  is.        D.  "Sige 

307.  D.U.  englisc.  (altered  to  Siege). 

308.  D.  elcere  synna.  316.  D.  sete.     D.  wsete. 

310.  U.mann;  D.  man  (above  line).  317.  D.  nutenu.   D.U.  eta's.    D.U. 
D.  6ic.     U.  modega'S.                                  ser.     D.U.  hi. 

311.  U.  feoU  £er.     D.  hi.  318.  A.   -wise,  alt.  to    -wisa.     U. 
.   312.  U.  l)e.     D.U.  magon.                     laenn  (altered  to  mann).    D.  kepan. 

*■  Above  the  line. 


XVI.     MEMORY   OF   THE   SAINTS.  359 

and  doeth  it  for  ostentation,  if  he  will  give  any  dole, 

and  then  is  fame  the  reward  of  his  deeds,  304 

and  his  punishment  awaiteth  him  in  the  future  world. 

The  eighth  sin  is  called  Superbia, 

that  is  called  Pride,  in  English, 

which  is  the  beginning  and  end  of  every  sin  ;  308 

it  made  angels  into  horrible  devils, 

and  will  make  the  man  also,  if  he  prideth  himself  too  much, 

the  companion  of  the  devil,  who  first  fell  thereby. 

Now  there  are  eight  Chief  Virtues,  which  may  overcome        312 

these  aforesaid  devils,  through  the  Lord's  assistance. 

One  is  Tem2)erantia,  that  is  in  English,  Moderation, 

this  is,  that  a  man  be  moderate,  and  do  not  take  too  much 

either  in  food  or  drink,  neither  take  his  meals  before  the  time.   316 

Beasts  eat  as  soon  as  they  have  it, 

but  the  discreet  man  ought  to  keep  to  liis  mealtime, 

and  then,  also  with  discretion,  observe  his  regular  custom ; 

thus  may  he  then  overcome  Gluttony.  320 

The  second  virtue  is  Castitas,  that  is  in  English,  Purity, 

which  is,  that  a  layman  keep  himself  without  adultery, 

in  lawful  wedlock  with  discretion, 

and  the  consecrated  servant  of  God  keep  his  virginity;  324 

thus  will  Adultery  be  also  overcome. 

The  third  virtue  is  Largitas,  that  is  in  English,  Liberality, 

which  is,  that  a  man  spend  his  possessions  wisely,  not  for  worldly 

ostentation, 
the  things  which  God  lent  him  to  enjoy  in  this  life.  328 

God  willeth  not  that  we  should, be  greedy  misers, 
neither  throw  away  our  goods  in  worldly  ostentation, 


319.  D.  Sone.  D.U.  om.  swa.  D.U.  gehadode.     D.U.  claennesse. 
gesceade.     U.  haealdan.  325.  D,  beoS.    D.U.  galnys. 

321.  U.  englisc.       D.  \>a:t  is  on  en-  326.  D.U.  cystignys. 

glisc  clsennys.  327.  D.U.  om.  jicet  is.     U.  J)aet  se 

322.  D.U.  om.  pcet  is.      D.  Isewede.  mann.     D.U.  om.  his  ajhta. 
D.  buton.     U.  forligere ;  D.  forllgre.  328.  D.U.  H^ig- 

323.  U.  sincipe.  '      U.  gesceadwis-  329.  D.  ge  (for  we). 

nesse.  330.  D.  ^ac.     U.  Forwurpon, 

324.  A.  gehadode,  alt.  to  -da;  D. 


360  XVI.    SERMO    DE    MEMORIA    SANCTORUM. 

ac  dselan  hi  mid  gesceade  swa  swa  hit  drihtne  licie  . 

and  gif  we  selmyssan  do?S  don  hi  butan  gylpe  .  333 

|jonne  mage  we  fordon  swa  ?5a  deofollican  gitsunga  . 

Seo  feorSe  miht  ^is  patientia  .  Ipcet  is  getSyld  and  J?olmodnys* 

gecwaeden  . 
])cet  ^  is  ^  \)cet  se  mann  beo  ge'Syldig  and  ?Sol(o)mod  for  gode  . 
and  Isete  sefre  his  gewitt  gewyldre  })onne  his  yrre  .  336 

fortJan  J?e  se  hselend  cwse'S  pus  on  his  godspelle  . 
In  patientia  ues^ra  possidebitis  animas  ues^ras  . 
]>cet  is  on  engliscre  sprsece  .  On  eowrum  geSylde 
ge  habbaS  eowre  sawla  sotSlice  gehealdene  .  340 

Se  heofonlica  wis-dom  cwseS  .  pcet  pcet  yrre  hsefS  wununge 
on  tSaes  dysegan  bosme  pcet  ^  is '  tSonne  he  bitS  to  hrsed-mod  . 
and  se  ealwealdenda  dema  demtS  sefre  mid  smyltnysse  . 
and  we  sceolan  mid  get5ylde  oferswytSan  \>cet  yrre  .  344 

Seo  fiffce  miht  is  spiritalis  (sic)  laetitia  . 
\>cet  is  seo  gastlice  blys  .  pcet  ^  is  ^  ]>cet  man  on  god  blyssige 
betwux  unrotnyssum  }?ysre  retSan  worulde  . 
swa  pcet  we  on  ungelimpum  ormode  ne  beon  .  348 

ne  eft  on  gesseltSum  to  swytSe  ne  blyssian  . 
and  gif  we  forleosatS  |?as  Isenan  woruld-tSingc  . 
[jonne  sceole  we  witan  pcet  ure  wunung  nis  na  her 
ac  is  on  heofonum  gif  we  hopia(S  to  gode  .  35  a 

pyder  we  sceolan  efstan  of  tSyssere  earfotSnysse 
mid  gastlicre  blisse  .  jjonne  bitS  seo  unrotnyss 
mid  ealle  ofer-swy'Sed  mid  urum  getSylde  . 

Seo  syxte  miht  is  instantia  boni  operis  .  356 

pcet  is  anrsednyss  godes  weorces  . 
gif  we  beotS  anrsede  on  urum  godum  weorcum  . 

331.  D.  dselan.     U.  hi.     D.  Hcige.  man;  D.  ])ce<  se  man.     D.U.  polmod; 

332.  U.  aslmessan.      D.U.  hi.      D.  A.  Jjolmod,  alt.  to  Jjolomod. 
buton.  336.  D.  wuldre  (for  gewyldre). 

333.  XJ.  maga.  U.  fordon.  D.  337.  D.  for^am'Se. 
deofellican  ;  U.  deoflican.  D.U.  git-  338.  D.  pacientia. 
simge  ;  A.  -ge,  alt.  to  -ga.  339.  D.  sprxce. 

334.  D.  mihte.      D.  "Solmod.       D.  340.  D.  sawle. 
U.om.T])olmodnys.  D.U.gecweden.  341.  D.  wisddm, 

335.  D.U.  om.  ])cet  is.        U.  pcet 

^  Leaf  79,  back.        "  -nys  added  above  the  line.        '  Above  the  line. 


XVI.     MEMORY   OF  THE   SAINTS.  361 

but  deal  them  with  discretion,  even  as  it  may  please  to  the  Lord ; 
and  if  we  do  almsdeeds,  do  them  without  boasting;  332 

thus  may  we  destroy  the  fiendlike  Coveteousness. 
The  fourth  virtue  is  Patientia,  that  is  called  Patience  and  For- 
bearance, 
which  is,  that  a  man  be  patient  and  forbearing  for  [the  love  of]  God, 
and  ever  let  his  reason  be  more  powerful  than  his  anger;      336 
because  the  Saviour  saith  thus  in  His  gospel, 
*  In  patientia  vestra  possidehitis  animas  vestras ; ' 
that  is  in  the  English  speech,  'In  your  patience 
ye  shall  verily  have  your  souls  in  keeping.'  340 

The  Heavenly  Wisdom  saith,  that  Anger  dwelleth 
in  the  bosom  of  a  fool,  that  is,  when  he  is  too  hasty; 
for  the  All-ruling  Judge  judgeth  ever  with  mildness, 
and  we  ought  by  patience  to  overcome  Anger.  344 

The  fifth  virtue  is  S2nritualis  laetitla, 

that  is.  Spiritual  Joy,  which  is,  that  a  man  rejoice  in  God 
amidst  the  sorrows  of  this  hard  world, 

so  that  we  may  not  be  despairing  in  misfortunes,  348 

nor  again  rejoice  overmuch  in  prosperity; 
and  if  we  lose  the  transitory  things  of  this  world, 
then  should  we  know  that  our  dwelling  is  not  here, 
but  is  in  heaven,  if  we  hope  in  God.  353 

Thither  we  should  hasten  from  this  distress 
with  Spiritual  Joy;   thus  shall  the  Sorrow  be 
utterly  overcome  by  our  patience. 

The  sixth  virtue  is  Instantia  boni  02)eris,  356 

that  is,  Perseverance  in  a  good  work. 
If  we  be  persevering  in  our  good  works, 

342.  U.  dysgan.    D.U.  om.  J>aet  is.  349.  D.  blission. 

D.  hraedmdd.  35°-  I^-U.  woruldping. 

343.  U.  eallwealdenda.  351.  U.  sceolon.    U.  her. 

344.  D.U.  sceolon.  353.  D.U.  sceolon.  U.  on  (for  of). 

345.  D.  leticia ;  U.  letitia.  D.  'Sisre  earS-fo(5nysse. 

346.  U.  gaslice  {alt.  to  gastlice)  bliss.  354.  D.  gastlicere. 
D.U.  om.  pcet  is.    U.  on  gpde.    D.           356.  D.  instancia. 

blisBie.  357-  D.U.  annsdnys.     U.  godes. 

347.  D.  unrdtnysBum.      U.  l^yssere  358,  D.  anrsede.    D.  g<5du»». 
re ban. 


362  XVI.     SEE  MO   DE   MEMORIA   SANCTORUM. 

t5onne  mage  we  ofer-swyc^an  Ipa  asolcennysse  swd  . 
for'San  Ipe  hit  biS  langsum  bysmor  .  gif  ure  lif  bitJ  unnyt  h6r  .     360 
Seo  seofoSe  miht  is  seo  so(5e  lufu  to  gode  . 
])(iBt  we  on  godum  weorcum  godes  lufe  cepon  . 
Na  ideles  gylpes  .  J?e  him  is  andssete  . 

Ac  uton  don  selmyssan  swa  swa  he  us  taehte  .  364 

gode  to  lofe  na  us  to  hlisan  . 
poet  god  sy  geherod  on  urum  godum  weorcum  . 
and  se  idela  gylp  us  beo  aefre  unwurtS . 

Seo  eahteotSe  miht  is  .  seo  sotSe  eadmodnyss  .  368 

ge  to  gode  ge  to  mannum  .  mid  modes  hluttornysse  . 
fortSan  setSe  wis  bytS  .  ne  wurtS  he  nsefre  modig  . 
On  hwan  mseg  se  mann  modigan  ]?eah  he  wille  . 
ne  mseg  he  on  geSincSum  forcSan  J?e  fela  synd  gejsungenran  .  372 
ne  mseg  he  on  his  sehtum  .  forSan  \>e  he  his  ende-dseg  ndt . 
ne  on  nanum  J)ingum  he  ne  maeg  modigan  .  gif  ^  he  wis  bitS 
Nu  ge  habbatS  gehyred  .  hu  ]?as  halgan  insegnu 
oferswyc5a]3  tSa  leahtras  .  J?e  deofol  bessewtS  on  us  .  376 

and  gif  we  nellatS  hi  ofer-switJan  .  hi  besencatS  us  on  helle  . 
"We  magon  J)urh  godes  fylst  t5a  feondlican  leahtras 
mid  gecampe  ofer-winnan  .  gif  we  cenlice  feohtatS  . 
and  habban  us  on  ende  Jjone  ecan  wurtS-mynt  .  380 

d  mid  gode  sylfum  gif  we  swincatS  nu  h6r; 
^Dam  to  wuldre  tSe  on  ecnysse  rixatS  ece  drihten; 
\)a,m  sy  wuldor  and  lof  .  tSe  i  leofatS . 

mid   faeder  .  and   mid   suna  .  and  mid  Sam   halgan  g[aste]  on 
ecnysse.     Amen.'^  3  84 

359.  D.  J»one.    U.  maga,     D.  ofer-  364.  U.  don  selmessan. 
swiSem.    D.  asolcennesse.    D.U,  swa.  366.  D.  ac  Ycet. 

360.  D.  bysmer.     D.  lif.     U.  her.  367.  U.  unwyrS. 

361.  U.   (after  is)  inserts  caritas  368.  U.  ehteo^e.   D.  eadmodnysse. 
above  the  Ihie.  369.  D.  hluttornesse ;    U.   hlutto- 

362.  U.     godum.      D.    lufu.      D.  nysse,  corr.  to  hluttornysse. 

c^pon ;    U.  kepon.  370.  D.  for'SamSe.      D.  wfs.    D.U. 

363.  D.  anssete,  corr.  to  andssete.  wyrS. 

*  Leaf  80.  ^ — ^  Added  in  a  later  hand. 


XVI.    MEMORY   OF   THE   SAINTS.  363 

then  may  we  thus  overcome  idleness, 

because  it  is  a  prolonged  disgrace,  if  our  life  be  useless  here.    360 
The  seventh  Virtue  is  true  Love  to  God, 
that  we  in  good  works  seek  after  God's  love ; 
not  Vainglory,  which  is  hateful  to  Him, 

but  let  us  do  alms,  even  as  He  taught  us,  364 

for  the  praise  of  God,  not  for  our  own  glory, 
that  God  may  be  magnified  in  our  good  works, 
and  Vainglory  may  ever  be  worthless  to  us. 
The  eighth  Virtue  is  true  Humility,  368 

both  towards  God  and  towards  man  with  simplicity  of  mind ; 
for  he  who  is  wise  will  never  be  proud. 
"Wherein  may  a  man  pride  himself,  though  he  wish  it? 
He  may  not  in  his  rank,  because  many  are  more  distinguished 
[than  he];  372 

nor  may  he  in  his  possessions,  because  he  knoweth  not  his  last  day ; 
nor  in  anything  can  he  pride  himself,  if  he  be  wise. 
Now  ye  have  heard  how  these  holy  Virtues 
overcome  those  Sins  which  the  devil  soweth  in  us;  376 

and  if  we  will  not  overcome  them,  they  will  sink  us  to  hell. 
We  can,  by  God's  assistance,  conquer  those  fiendish  sins 
by  fighting,  if  we  fight  bravely; 

and  have  for  ourselves,  at  the  end,  the  eternal  glory  380 

ever  with  God  Himself,  if  we  now  labour  here, 
unto  His  glory  who  eternally  reigneth,  the  Everlasting  Lord ; 
to  whom  be  glory  and  praise,  who  ever  liveth, 
the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  in  eternity.     Amen. 

371.  D.U.  hwam.     D.   man.      U.       before  on  helle. 

modigean  ;  D.  modigian.  378.  D.  fyst  {corr.  to  fylst). 

372.  D.  geSintSum.  379.  D.  kenlice ;  U.  clienlice. 

373.  U.  h^  {twice).    D.  is  {corr.  to  380.  D.  ecean  wurSment. 
his).     D.  nat.  381.  D.U.  lier. 

374.  D.  modigian ;    U.  modigean.  382-384.  U.  J^terto  us  gefultumige 
D.  wis.  se^e  leofatJ  ~)   rixa'S   a  buton  ende ; 

376.  D.  lis.  Amen.     D.  omits. 

377.  U.  hf.     D.  omits  all  the  line 


364  XVII.    DE   AUGURIIS, 

XVII. 

SERMO  IN  LAETANIA  MAIOEE  [DE  AUGURIIS]. 

[Collated  with  D.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge,   303,  p.  231; 
E.  =  MS.  C.CC.C.  302,  p.  33.] 

SB  APOSTOL  PAULUS  EALKA  DEODA  LAREOW  MANODE  DA  cristenan 
J)e  he  sylf  ser  to  geleafan  gebigde  on  anum  pistole  .  Ipcet  is 
serend-gewrit .  Sus  cwetSende.     Fratres  .  SpeW^u  ambulate  .  et  de- 
sideria  carnis  Non  perficietis  .  et  cetera.     Mine  gebrotSra  faratS  on  4 
gaste  .  \>cet  is  on  gastlicre  drohtnunga .  and  ne  gefremme  ge  eowres 
flsesces  lustas.     pcet  flsesc  sotSlice  gewintS  ongean  tSone  gast  .  and  se 
gast  ongean  \)cet  flgesc  .  pas  tSincg  sotSlice  .  \)cet  is  se  lichama  .  and 
seo  sawl  .  wiima'S  him  be-tweonan.     Ac  seo  sawl  is  'Sees  flsesces  8 
hlsefdige  .  and  hire  gedafhacS .  \>cet  heo  simle  gewylde  Sa  wylne  .  Ipcet 
is  \>cet  flsesc  .  to  hyre  hgesum.     pwyrlice  fsertS  aet  Sam  huse  Jjcer  seo 
wyln  bi?5  J?oere  hlaefdian  wissigeud .  and  seo  hlsefdige  biS  jjsere  wylne 
undertSeodd .  swa  bit5  eac  Jjses  mannes  lif  on  hinder  gefadod  .  gifpcet  12 
flaesc  Ipe  is  brosnigendlic  and  deadlic  .  sceal  gewyldan  Jjone  gast  tSe 
is  ece  .  and  unateorigendlic  .  to  his  fracodum  lustum  tSe  hi  buta 
fordotS  .  and  to  ecum  tintregum  gebringatJ  .  Se  apostol  cwaetS  .  Gif 
ge  beotS  Jjurh  tSone  gast  g^lsedde  .  Sonne  ne  synd  ge  n4  under  se  .  16 
He  cwseS  on  oSre  stowe  .  Nis  nan  se  rihtwisum  menu  gesett .  ac 
unrihtwisum .  and  na  under-J^eoddum  .  Arleasum  .  and  forscyldegod- 
um  .  forSan  Jse  seo  ae  .  ])cet  is  se  rihtwise  steor  ne  ge-gret  Jjone 
rihtwisan  mid  nanum  yfele  .  ac  heo  gewitnatS  pa.  unriht-wisan  be  20 
heora  gewyrhtum  .  Se  rihtwisa  sotSlice  ne  J)earf  him  ondrsedan  Jja 
stitSan  steora  pe  godes  .  se  .  tsectS  .  gif  he  him  sylfum  stjrrtS  fram 
ealluwi  stunt-nyssum  .  Paulus  cwsetS  .  swutele  synd  Ipses  flsesces^ 

Title.    D.  adds  de  epistola  pauli  6.  D.  flesces.    D.  flesc ;  E.  flfesc. 

&  DE  AUGURIIS.     E.  has  only  Douinica  T>.   gewilnad   (sic)  for  gewintJ ;    E. 

Ill*  VEL  QVANDO  UOLVERIS.  gewilnatS.    E.  g^st. 

1.  D.  alra.  7.  D.  flesc.     D.E.  fing. 

2.  D.  er.     D.  gelefan  gebfgde.    D.  8.  D.  sawul ;  E.  sauwl.     D.  heom. 
ane  pistle.  D.  sawle ;  E.  sawvd.    D.  pea,  above  the 

3.  D.  erendgewrfte.  line.     D.  flesces. 


4.  D.  mine.  9.  D.    hlafdlge.     D.E. 

5.  D.  gastlicere.     D.E.  drohtnunge.  D.  symble.     D.  wulrie. 
E.  gefremmege;    D.  gefremlge  {oni,  10.  D.  flesc.     D.    hfre  hesen.     D. 
ge).    D.  eoures.  fwyrllce  ferS  et  ]>an.     D.  ]>er  se. 

^  Leaf  80,  back. 


T 


XVII.    ON  AUGURIES.  365 

XVII. 

ON    AUGURIES. 
HE  Apostle  Paul,  the  teacher  of  all  nations,  exhorted  those 


Christians  whom  he  had  formerly  converted  to  the  faith,  in 
an  Epistle,  that  is  a  letter,  thus  saying :  '  Fratres,  Sjnritu  ambulate, 
et  desideria  carnis  non  per/icietis,  et  cetera ' — '  My  brethren,  walk  4 
in  the  Spirit,  that  is  in  spiritual  conversation,  and  ye  shall  not 
fulfil  the  lusts  of  your  flesh.'     The  flesh  verily  warreth  against  the 
spirit,  and  the  spirit  against  the  flesh.     These  things  verily,  that  is 
the  body  and  the  soul,  fight  between  themselves.     But  the  soul  8 
is  the  flesh's  mistress,  and  it  befitteth  her  that  she  should  ever  rule 
the  bondmaid,  that  is  the  flesh,  according  to  her  bests.     Ill  fareth 
it  with  the  house  where  the  bondmaid  is  the  ruler  of  the  mistress 
and  the  mistress  is  in  subjection  to  the  bondmaid ;  so  also  will  the 
life  of  man  be  ordered  backward,  if  the  flesh  which  is  corruptible  12 
and  mortal  shall  subdue  the  spirit,  which  is  eternal  and  imperish- 
able, to  its  base  lusts,  which  will  destroy  them  both,  and  bring 
them  to  everlasting  torments.     The  Apostle  said,  *  If  ye  be  led  by 
the  Spirit,  then  are  ye  not  under  the  Law.'     He  said  in  another  16 
place,  '  There  is  no  law  set  for  righteous  men,  but  for  unrighteous 
and  disobedient,  for  the  profane  and  the  guilty;'  because  the  law, 
that  is  the  righteous  rule,  will  not  greet  [i.  e.  visit]  the  righteous 
man  with  any  evil,  but  it  will  punish  the  unrighteous  according  to  20 
their  works.     The  righteous  verily  need  not  fear  the  strict  rule 
which  God's  law  teacheth,  if  he  restraineth  himself  from  all  foolish- 
ness.  Paul  said,  '  Manifest  are  the  works  of  the  flesh,  adultery  and 


11.  E.   wylne.     D.   J^ere  hlefdian  17.  D.  eae  rihtwisen.     D.E.   men. 
wisiende.    D.  hlefdie.    D.  ])ere  wulne.  D.  geset. 

12.  D.E.  underJ>eod.   D.  })es.  D.E.  18.    D.   unrihtwfeen,      D.   under- 
lif.  Jjeoddan  ;   E.  under])eodu7K.     D.  Ar- 

13.  D.  flesc.     E.  brosniendlic ;    D.  leasen  j  E.  ^rleasuw.     D.  forscyldgo- 
brosniendlic.    D.  deadllc  ;  E.  dadlic.  dum. 

14.  D.  ecce.  D.  unateoriendlic.    D.  19.  D.E.  seo  {for  Be). 

fraceden  lusten.    D.E.  hi,  20.  D.  gewltnat?.     D.  unrihtwfsan. 

15.  D.  ecen  tintregen.  22.  D.   stere;  E.  steore.     D.   om. 

16.  D.  geledde.      D.   panne.      D,  sylfum. 

synde  ge.     D.E.  na.  23.  E.  stuntnessum. 


366  XVII.    DE   AUGURIIS." 

weorc  .  \>cet  is  forligr  .  and  unclsennyss  .  estfulnyss  .  otStSe  galnyss  .  24 
hae'Sen-gild  .  oSSe  unlybban  .  feondrseden  .  and  geflit  .  anda  .  and 
yrre  .  sacu  .  and  twirsednyss  .  dwoUic  Idr  .  and  nitS  .  mansliht  .  and 
druncennyss  .  oferfyll  ,  andotSre  tSyllice  .  j^e  ic  fore  eow  secge  swa 
swa  ic  fore  [saede]  .  for'San  psx  6e  'Syllice  weorc  wyrcaS  ,  ne  begita'S  28 
lii  godes  rice  .  Gehwa  mot  yfelcs  geswican  .  and  gebetan  .  ac  gif  he 
Surh-wunatS  on  yfelnysse  .  and  forsihS  his  scyppendes  beboda  .  and 
deofla  gecwemtJ  .  Jjonne  sceal  he  un'Sances  on  ecnysse  Srowian  .  on 
Sam  unadwsescend-licum  fyre  .  betwux  Sam  wyrrestan  wurm-cynne  .  32 
Ipe  nsefre  ne  bitS  adyd  .  ac  ceowatS  symle  .  |3sera  arleasra  lichama  .  on 
tSam  hellican  lige  .  Eft  cwseS  se  apostol  on  oSrum  pistole  .  Fratrea  . 
Nolite  errare  .  Neqwe  fornicarii  .  'Neque  idolis  seruientes  .  Neqrte 
adulteri  .  'Reque  molles .  Neque  fures  .  Neqwe  auari  .  Neq*te  ebriosi  .  36 
N"eqz*e  maledici  .  Neqwe  rapaces  .  regnum  dei  Non  possidebunt  . 
Mine  gebroSra  nelle  ge  dwelian  .  natSor  ne  unriht-hsemeras  .  ne  Sa 
?Se  hseSen-gildum  JjeowiaS  .  ne  tSa  pe  oSre  manna  wif  habbaS  .  ne 
Sa  hnescan  ve\  ^  wdcmod  ^  .  pcet  synd  pa,  tSe  nane  stitSnysse  nabbaS  40 
ongean  leahtras  .  Ne  ?5eofas  .  ne  gytseras  ,  ne  drinceras  .  pcet  synd  pa. 
tSe  druncennysse  lufiaS  .  ne  wyrgendras  .  jjaera  mutS  bi(5  symle  mid 
gegettrode  wyrigunge  afylled  .  ne  reaferas  .  nabbat5  hi  nsefre  godes 
rice  .  He  cwsecS  J?a  git  eft  fortS  to  J?am  folce  Sus  .  pis  ge  wseron  .  ac  ge  44 
synd  nu  afeormode  .  ac  ge  synd  gehalgode  .  ac  ge  synd  geriht-wisode 
on  drihtnes  naman  ures  hselendes  cristes  .  and  on  gaste  ures  godes  . 
Deofol-gild  bitS  pcet  man  his  drihten  forlsete  .  and  his  cristendom  .   47 
and  to  deofollicum  hseSenscype  gebuge  .  bysmrigende  his  scyppend . 
OtSer  deofolgild  is  derigendlic  psere  sawle  . 

Sonne  se  man  forsihS  his  scyppendes  beboda  .  50 

and  ]3a  sceandlican  leahtras  begseS  .  pe  se  sceocca  hine  laerS  . 

24.  D.    forlfr ;     E.    forliger.      D.  28,     D.E.     fore    saede  ;     A.     fore 
unclcennys ;   E,   unclsennes.     D.   est-  secge  (wrongly).     E.  pa,  Sa. 
fulnys;  E.  estfulnes.     D.  galnys;  E.  29.  D.E,  rice.     D,  yfelses  geswican. 
galnes.  30.  E.  yfelnesse.     D.  sceppendes. 

25.  D.E.  T  (/or  oSSe  o/ifer  hse'Sen-  31.  D.    deofle ;     E.    deofole.      E. 
gild).     D.  unlibban.  unjjancas.     D.  ecnesse ;  E.  eccnesse. 

26.  D.  twyrsednys ;  E.  twyraednes.  .  32.  D.E.  wyrstan  wyrmcynne. 
D.  dwolic  lar  &  nlj).  33.  D.  ])ara.     D.E.  lichaman. 

2  7.  D.  drueennys  ;  E.  drujicennes.  34.  D.  lige. 

D.  oferfyl.     D.E.  eow  fore  secge. 

^  Above  the  line. 


XVII.    ON   AUGURIES.  367 

uncleanness,  lasciviousness  or  lust,  idolatry  or  witchci'aft,  enmity  34 
and  strife,  spite  and  anger,  contention   and  sedition,  heresy  and 
envy,  murder  and  drunkenness,  surfeiting  and  other  such  like,  the 
which  I  tell  you  beforehand,  even  as  I  told  you  formerly ;  for  they 
who  work  such  works  shall  not  attain  to  God's  kingdom/     Every  28 
one  may  cease  from  evil  and  amend ;    but  if  he  continueth  in 
wickedness  and  despiseth  his  Creator's  commands  and  pleaseth  the 
devils,  then  shall  he  against  his  will  suffer  in  eternity,  in  the  un- 
quenchable fire,  amidst  the  worat  serpent-kind  which  shall  never  32 
be  destroyed,  but  shall  ever  chew  the  bodies  of  the  wicked  in  the 
fire  of  hell.     Again,  said  the  Apostle  in  another  epistle,  *  Fraires, 
nolite  errare  ;  neque  fornicarii,  neque  idolis  seruientes,  neque  adrd- 
teri,  neque  molles,  neque  fures,  neque  auari,  neque  ehriosi,  neque  36 
maledici,    neque    rajxtces,   regnum    dei    non    possidebuni.' — *  My 
brethren,  be  ye  not  deceived ;  neither  fornicators,  nor  those  who 
serve  idols,  nor  those  who  have  other  men's  wives,  nor  the  effe- 
minate  or  weak-minded — these  are  they  who  have  no  sternness  40 
against  sins — nor  thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor  drinkers — these  are 
they  who  love  drunkenness — nor  revilers,  whose  mouths  are  ever 
filled  with  poisoned  cursing,  nor  robbers,  shall  ever  possess  God's 
kingdom.'     He  said  yet  again  to  the  people  thus,  *  Such  ye  were,  44 
but  now  are  ye  cleansed,  but  ye  are  sanctified,  but  ye  are  justified 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord  our  Saviour  Christ,  and  in  the  Spirit  of 
our  God.' 

Idolatry  is  that  a  man  forsake  his  Lord  and  his  Christianity,      47 
and  yield  to  diabolical  heathenism,  dishonouring  his  Creator. 
There  is  another  idolatry,  hurtful  to  the  soul, 

when  the  man  despiseth  his  Creator's  coinmands,  50 

and  practiseth  the  shameful  sins  which  the  devil  teacbeth  him. 


35.  E.  fornicari.  todre  wyriunge.     E.  reafras. 

37.  D.E.  om.  non.  44,  D.E.  rice.     D.E.  om.  eft. 

39.  D.E.  oSra.     D.  wlf.  45.  E.  halgode.     D.  gerihtwfaede. 

40.  D.E.  om.  vA  wacmod,  47.  D.E.  cristendom. 

41.  D.  leahtres.     D.  drinceres;  E.  48.  E.  deofflicum.    D.  hsefienscipe. 
drunceras.  E.  bysinriende.     D,  scippend. 

42.  E.  Sa  druncennesae.      D.  wy-  49.  D.  dergendlic. 
rigendras  Jjsere.     D.  om.  bitS.  51.  D.  leahtres. 

43.  E,  geaetrode  wyriunge ;  D.  gext- 


368  XVII.    DE   AUGURIIS. 

pass  gastes  wsestmas  .  synd  Tpa,  godan  tSeawas  . 

^"pcet  se  man  lufige  Jjone  lifigendan  god  . 

and  hsebbe  tSa  so'San  lufe  symle  on  his  mode  .  54 

and  ?5a  gastlican  blysse  .  and  beo  gesibsum  . 

ge?5yldig  .  and  t5olmod  .  and  on  tSeawum  hsebbe 

godnysse  .  and  glsed  mod  .  and  mantSweernysse  . 

geleafan  .  and  gemetfsestnysse  .  and  modes  clsennysse  .  58 

and  forhgefednysse  butan  higeleaste  . 

Nis  nan  .  ae  .  wi'Serrgede  f)us  geworhtum  mannuwi  . 

ac  tSa  pe  cristas  synd  cwylmiatS  heora  flsesc  . 

Swa  ])cBt  hi  nellatS  onbugan  Sam  bysmorfullum  leahtrum  .        62 

ne  tSam  yfehim  gewilnungum  .  ac  winnatS  him  to-geanes  . 

otS  Ipcet  hi  sigefseste  si(5ia?5  to  criste  . 

and  to  tSam  ecan  wuldre  .  for  Sam  sceortan  gewlnne  . 

and  hi  blyssiaS  on  ecnysse  blitSe  mid  criste  .  66 

[Sermo  sancto  augustini  de  augueiis.] 
Agustinus  se  snotera  bisceop  ssede  eac  on  sumere  b6c  . 
Mine  gebroSra  ]?a  leofestan  .  gelome  ic  eow  warnode  . 
and  mid  fsederlicre  carfulnysse  .  ic  eow  cutSlice  manode  . 
pcet  ge  andssetan  wiglunge  Jje  unwise  men  healdaS  .  70 

mid  ealle  forlsetan  swa  swa  geleaffulle  men  . 
forSan  butan  ic  eow  warnige  .  and  |?one  wol  eow  forbeode  . 
ic  sceal  agyldan  gescead  Jjam  soSfsestan  deman 
minre  gymeleaste  .  and  mid  eow  beon  fordemed  .  74 

Nu  alyse  ic  me  sylfne  wicS  god  .  and  mid  lufe  eow  for-beode  . 
'pcet  eower  nan  ne  axie  ]3urh  senigne  wicce-crseft  . 
be  eenigum  tSinge  .  oSSe  be  senigre  untrumnysse  . 
ne  galdras  ne  sece  .  to  gremigenne  his  scyppend  .  78 

53.  D.  lufie,  59.  D.   forhsefdnysse ;    E.    forhsef- 

54.  D.  hsebba.     D.  so^a ;  E.  so^e.      ednesse.     D.E.  higleaste. 
E.  lufe,  alt.  to  lufan  ?  63.  D.  pan  yflum. 

55.  E.  an,  for  and.  64.  E.  sigfaeste. 

56.  E.   ins.   ~)   bef.  geSyldig.     D.  65.  D.  om.  and  bef.  to  ^am.     D. 
Jjolomod.     D.  om.  and.                               wuldras. 

57.  E.  godnesse.  E.   man-pwaer-  66.  E.  ecnesse. 

nesse.  67.  Title.    InDonli/.    E.  Augus- 

58.  D.  gemetfestnysse ;  E.  gemet-       tinus.     D.E.  bee. 

fsestnesse.     E.  cl£ennesse.  68.  D.  leofostan.    E.  gelome. 

»  Leaf  81. 


XVII.     ON    AUGURIES.  369 

The  fruits  of  the  Spirit  are  those  good  dispositions, 

that  the  man  love  the  living  God, 

and  have  true  love  ever  in  his  mind,  54 

and  spiritual  joy,  and  be  peaceable, 

patient  and  long-suffering,  and  in  manners  have 

goodness,  and  gladness,  and  meekness, 

faith  and  temperance,  and  cleanness  of  mind,  58 

and  continence  without  rashness. 

There  is  no  law  contrary  to  (against)  men  thus  disposed, 

but  those  that  are  Christ's  crucify  their  flesh, 

fio  that  they  will  not  incline  to  shameful  sins,  6a 

nor  to  those  evil  desires,  but  will  fight  against  them 

until  they  depart  victoriously  to  Christ, 

and  to  the  everlasting  glory  in  exchange  for  the  short  warfare, 

and  they  shall  rejoice  for  ever  blithely  with  Christ.  66 

Augustine  the  wise  bishop  said  likewise  in  a  certain  book, 
'My  brethren  most  beloved,  often  I  have  warned  you, 
and  with  fatherly  carefulness  I  lovingly  exhorted  you 
that,  as  for  the  odious  witchcraft  which  unwise  men  observe,        70 
ye  should  altogether  renounce  [it],  like  faithful  men, 
for  except  I  warn  you,  and  forbid  you  that  mischief, 
I  shall  have  to  give  an  account  to  the  righteous  judge 
for  my  carelessness,  and  shall  be  condemned  with  you.  74 

Now  I  deliver  myself  as  regards  God,  and  with  love  forbid  you, 
that  any  of  you  should  enquire  through  any  witchcraft 
concerning  anything,  or  concerning  any  sickness, 
or  seek  enchanters  to  anger  his  Creator ;  78 


69.  D.  federlicre.     E.  carfulnesse.  demsed. 

D.  cu])lice.  75.  E.  lyse  (for  alyse). 

70.  D.  wfglunge  ;  E.  wiglunga.    E,  76.  D.  eowser.    E.  axige. 

menn.    D.  healdetS.  77.  D.  enige.     D.E.  unbrumuesse. 

71.  D.forlaeton.  E.  geleafullemenn.  78.  D.  aldras  {vrith  space  left  far 

72.  E.  for^am.    D.  buton.  initial).     E.   s^ce.      D.  gremienne; 
74.  D.    lemeleaste    {sic).     D.    for  E.  gegremigenne.     D.  scuppend. 

24 


370  XVII.    DE   AUGURIIS. 

fortSan  se  t5e  J?ys  deS  .  se  forlystS  his  cristen-dom. 

and  bits  J?am  haetSenum  gelic  .  J^e  hleotatS  be  him  sylfum 

mid  'Sees  deofles  craefte  pe  hi  forde'S  on  ecnysse  . 

and  butan  he  selmyssan  .  and  mycele  dsedbote  8a 

his  Bcyppende  geoflfrige  .  sefre  he  bitS  forloren . 

Hleotan  man  mot  mid  geleafan  swa  Jjeah 

on  woruld-Singum  butan  wicce-crsefte  . 

"pcet  him  deme  seota  .  gif  hi  hwset  dselan  willatS  .  86 

Jjis  nis  nan  wiglung  .  ac  biS  wissung  foroft . 

Eall  swa  gelice  se  tSe  gelyfS  wiglungum 

oS'Se  be  fugelum  .  oSSe  be  fnorum  . 

oStSe  be  horsum  .  ot?Se  be  hundum  .  90 

ne  bicS  h6  nd  cristen  .  ac  bitS  for-cutS  wi?5er-saca  . 

Ne  sceal  nan  man  cepan  be  dagum 

on  hwilcum  daege  he  fare  .  ocStJe  on  hwylcum  he  ^  gecjrrre  . 

fortJan  J)e  god  gesceop  ealle  ?Sa  seofan  dagas  .  94 

Tpe  yrna?5  on  Ipsere  wucan  ot5  ]5ysre  worulde  geendunge  . 

Ac  setSe  hwider  faran  wille  .  singe  his  paternoster  . 

and  credan  .  gif  he  cunne  .  and  clypige  to  his  dryhten  . 

and  bletsige  hine  sylfne  .  and  siSige  orsorh  98 

Tpurh  godes  gescyldnysse  .  butan  Ssera  sceoccena  wiglunga  . 

Us  sceama'S  to  secgenne  ealle  t5a  sceandlican  wiglunga  . 

pe  ge  dwses-menn  drifatS  .  tSurh  deofles  lare  . 

oSSe  on  wifunge  •  otSSe  on  wadunge  .  102 

otSSe  on  brywlace  .  otSSe  gif  man  hwses  bitt 

J>onne  hi  hwset  onginnatS  .  oppe  him  hwset  bitS  acenned  . 

Ac  wite  ge  to  sotSan  .  \)cet  se  sceocca  eow  IserS 

79.  D.    forleost ;    E.   forlyst.      E.  87.  D.     nis    naht    wigelunge.     D. 
cristenddm.  wissunge. 

80.  D.  )3an  he'Senen  ;  E.  ])am  hse-  88.  I).  Ealswa.     D,  wigelunge. 
Jjenan.     D.  heom  sylfe.  89.  D.  fugelen ;    E.  fugulum.     D. 

81.  D.  ])es.    D.  crefte.    D.  ecenesse.  fnoren. 

82.  D.  buton.     D.  manega  elmes-  90.  D.  horsen.     D.  hunden. 

san  ;   E.  manega   selmissan.     D.  mi-  91.  D.E.  he.     D.    naht  (for   n^) ; 

cele  dedbote.  E.  na. 

83.  D.  scuppende  geoffrie  efre.  92.    E.    nan    cristen    mann.       D. 

85.  D.    woruldjiingan.      D.   wicce-       dagen ;  and  inserts  oS^e  be  nihte. 
crafte.  93.  D.  hwylce  dege.    D.  hylce.    D. 

86.  D.E.  seo  td  (error  for  se  t^n  !)       gecurre. 

D.  hwet  delen.  94.  D,  gescop  alle.     D.E.  seofon. 

1  Leaf  81,  back. 


XVII.    ON   AUGURIES.  371 

for  he  that  doeth  this,  he  letteth  go  his  Christianity, 
and  is  like  the  heathen  who  cast  lots  concerning  themselves 
by  means  of  the  devil's  art,  which  will  destroy  them  for  ever; 
and  unless  he  offer  alms  and  much  penance  83 

to  his  Creator,  he  shall  be  lost  eternally. 
Nevertheless  a  man  may  cast  lots,  in  faith, 
in  worldly  things,  without  witchcraft, 

that  he  may  allot  himself  pastures,  if  men  wish  to  divide    any 
thing  [i.  e.  any  land]  ;  86 

this  is  no  sorcery,  but  is  very  often  a  direction. 
So  likewise  he  who  trusteth  in  auguries, 
either  from  birds,  or  from  sneezings, 

either  from  horses  or  from  dogs,  90 

he  is  no  Christian,  but  is  an  infamous  apostate. 
Neither  may  any  man  give  heed  to  days, 
on  which  day  he  shall  journey,  or  on  which  he  shall  return, 
because  God  created  all  the  seven  days  94 

which  succeed  in  the  week,  until  this  world's  ending. 
But   he   who  wishes   to  journey  any  whither,  let   him  sing  his 

Paternoster 
and  Credo,  if  he  know  [them],  and  cry  to  his  Lord, 
and  cross  himself,  and  travel  without  care  98 

through  God's  protection,  without  the  devil's  sorceries. 

It  shameth  us  to  tell  all  the  shameful  sorceries, 
which  ye  foolish  men  practise  through  the  devil's  lore, 
whether  in  wiving,  or  in  travelling,  loa 

or  in  brewing,  or  if  a  man  pray  for  anything, 
when  they  begin  anything,  or  anything  is  born  to  them. 
But  know  ye  of  a  truth,  that  the  devil  teacheth  you 

95.  D.   urnaS.     D.  Jjere.     D.   Jjis-  101.  D.  ])e  sot  men  {for  ge  dwaes- 
sere  woruld.     E.  om.  geeundunge.  menn).     E.  Mre. 

96.  D.  faren.  102.  D.   wifunge.      E.    omits   this 

97.  D.E.   his  credan.     D.  clupien.  line. 

D.E.  drihtene.  103.  D.   breowlace.     E.  om.   oS'Se 

98.  D.  blesie.    D.  sulfne.   D.  si'Sise.  on  brywlace.     D.  hi  hwes ;  E.  hi  wses 

99.  D.E,    gescyldnesse.      D.    J)ere  (for  hwaes).     D.E.  bit. 
deofle  (/or  sceoccena).  D.  wigelunge;  104.  D.  hwet  (<mce). 

E.  wiglunge.  105.  D.  deofol   (for  sceocca).     D. 

100.  D.  seamed.     D.  secgene  alle.       lerS. 

D.  sceandlice  wigelunge.  24-2 


372  XVII.     DE   AUGURIIS. 

Jjyllice  scincraeftas  .  pcet  he  eowre  sawla  hsebbe  io6 

Sonne  ge  gelyfacS  his  leas-braednysse  . 

Nu  cwyS  sum  wiglere  ^cet  wiccan  oft  secgatS 

swa  swa  hit  agsetS  mid  so(5um  tSincge  . 

Nu  secge  we  to  socSan  pcet  se  ungesewenlica  deofol  no 

J3e  flyhtJ  geond  Jjas  woruld  .  and  fela  Sincg  gesihtS 

geswutelatS  )?8era  wiccan  hwset  heo  secge  mannum  . 

'pcet  pa,  beon  fordone  pe  tSsene  dry-crseft  secatS  . 

Fela  ssedon  pa  dry-men  .  Jjurh  deoflea  crseft  .  114 

lamnes  and  mambres  .  swa  swa  moyses  awrdt  . 

and  hi  phar4o  forlserdon  mid  heora  lotwrencum  . 

otSSset  he  adranc  on  Saere  deopan  sse  . 

Eall  swa  eac  symon  se  swicola  dry  .  118 

swa  lauge  he  wan  wiS  petre  .  o(5  pcet  he  weart?  afylled  . 

tSa  pa  he  wolde  fleon  to  heofonum  ,  pcet  he  on  feower  tobaerst 

and  swa  ferde  wselhreow  mid  wite  to  helle  . 

Fela  otSre  forferdon  pe  folgodon  dry-crsefte  .  123 

swa  swa  we  on  bocum  rsedatS  .  ac  heora  racu  is  langsum  . 

Ne  sceal  se  cristena  befrinan  pa  fulan  wiccan 

be  his  gesundfulnysse  .  j^eahSe  heo  secgan  cunne 

sum  Siucg  jjurh  deofol  .  forSan  pe  hit  bi(5  derigendlic  .  126 

and  eall  hit  biS  settrig  pcet  him  of  cymS  . 

and  ealle  his  folgeras  forfaratS  on  ende  . 

Sume  men  synd  swa  ablende  .  pcet  hi  bringatS  heora  Idc 

to  eorSfaestum  stane  .  and  eac  to  treowum  .  130 

and  to  wylspringum  .  swa  swa  wiccan  tsecatS  . 

and  nellatS  under-standan  .  hu  stuntlice  hi  doS  . 

oSSe  hu  se  deada  stdn  .  o'SSe  pcet  dumbe  treow 

106.  D.   Jjullice.      D.   wiccecreftes  113.  D.  ])ane;  E.  ])one.     D,  wicce- 
{for  scincraeftas).     D.    eower    sawle       creft  {for  drycrseft)  secgaeS. 

habbe.  114.  E.  feala.    D.  sedan.    D.  wige- 

107.  D.  J)anne.     D.E.  leasbredene,  leres  {for  dryuienl.     D.  creft. 

108.  E,   cwseS.     D.    wigelere.     D.  115.  MS.  Jul.  has  lammes ;  D.E. 
wiccen  ofte.  lamnes.     D.E.  awrat. 

109.  D.  age's;  E.  %seS.  D.  so^en.  116,  D.    pharao ;    E.    pharad.     D. 
D.E.  J)inge.  forlerden.     D.  lot-wrencen. 

no.  D.  ungesewenlice  deofel.  117.  E.    dranc.        D.    I^ere.        D. 

111,  E.  feala  J)ing.  sse. 

1 1 2.  D.  J)ere ;  E.  ])aere.     D.  wiccen  118.  D.E.    Ealswa.      D.     wigelere 
hwet.     D.  magen  {for  mannum).  {for  dry). 


XVII.    ON  AUGURIES.  373 

such  delusions  that  he  may  have  your  souls  io6 

when  ye  believe  his  lying  deceits. 

Now  a  certain  sorcerer  saith  that  witches  often  declare 

even  as  a  matter  happens  with  a  true  result. 

Now  say  we  of  a  truth,  that  the  invisible  devil  no 

who  flieth  through  these  worlds,  and  seeth  many  things, 

revealeth  to  the  witch  what  she  shall  say  to  men, 

that  they  may  be  destroyed  who  seek  this  sorcery. 

Many  things  said  the  magicians  through  the  devil's  art,  114 

Jamnes  and  Jambres,  [A.  S.  Mambres],  even  as  Moses  wrote, 

and  they  seduced  Pharaoh  with  their  deceits, 

until  he  was  drowned  in  the  deep  sea. 

So  likewise  Simon,  the  wily  sorcerer,  118 

strove  so  long  with  Saint  Peter,  until  he  was  cast  down, 

when  he  desired  to  fly  to  heaven,  so  that  he  burst  into  four  parts, 

and  so  that  impious  man  departed  in  torment  to  hell. 

Many  others  have  perished  who  followed  sorcery,  122 

even  as  we  read  in  books,  but  their  story  is  tedious. 

Neither  shall  the  Christian  enquire  of  the  foul  witch 
concerning  his  health,  though  she  may  be  able  to  tell 
something  through  the  devil,  for  it  will  be  harmful,  126 

and  all  will  be  poisonous  which  cometh  from  him, 
and  all  his  followers  shall  perish  in  the  end. 
Some  men  are  so  blinded,  that  they  bring  their  offerings 
to  an  earth-fast  stone,  and  eke  to  trees,  130 

and  to  well-springs,  even  as  witches  teach, 
and  will  not  understand  how  foolishly  they  act, 
or  how  the  dead  stone  or  the  dumb  tree 


119.  E,  wann.   D.  wiS  sawcie  petre.  127.  D.  al.     D.  attrig;  E.   setrig. 
D.  oSSet.  D.  of-cuiii-S. 

120.  D.   heofonon.     D,   fower   to-  128.  D.  alle.     D.  folgeres. 

berst.  129.  E.   menn.    D.    synde.     D.E. 

121.  D.  welhreow.  lac. 

122.  D.   Fela   forferden   for   o^re.  130.  D.    eord-festen.     D.    stanen ; 
J)e  drycreft  lufeden.  E.  stanuwi.     D.  treowen. 

123.  D.  bocen  reda'5.    D.  race  us  is.  131.  D.  welsprunges.     D.  tecaC 

124.  D.  ])an  fulen  wicoen.  132.  E.  stuntlic. 

125.  D. -fulnesse  ;  E. -fullnesse.  133.  E.  om.  hu.     D.  stan. 

126.  D.E.  J)ing.     D.  deofel. 


374  XVII.     DE    AUGURIIS. 

him  msege  gehelpan  .  oSSe  hsele  forgifan  .  134 

^|?one  hi  sylfe  ne  astyria?5  .  of  Saere  stowe  nsefre  . 

Se  cristene  man  sceall  clypian  to  his  drihtne 

mid  mode  .  and  mid  mu(5e  .  and  his  munda  abiddan  . 

Tpcet  he  hine  scylde  wicS  deofles  syrwunga  .  138 

and  besettan  his  hiht  on  'Sone  so'San  god  . 

se  Se  ana  gewylt  ealra  gesceafta  . 

])cet  he  fore-sceawige  be  his  gesundfulnysse  . 

loca  hu  he  wille  .  swa  swa  ealwealdend  god  .  142 

"We  sceolan  on  selcne  timan  .  and  on  selcere  styrunge 

gebletsian  us  sylfe  mid  so?5um  geleafan  . 

and  mid  rode-tacne  ]?a  re'San  aflian  . 

for  (San  \>e  se  retSa  deofol  wearcS  ]?urh  'Sa  rode  ofer-swiSed  .  146 

and  heo  is  ure  sige-beacn  ongean  ]3one  sceoccan  a  . 

Eac  sume  gewitlease  wif  faratS  to  wega  gelsetum  . 

and  teotS  heora  cild  ]?urh  Sa  eorSan  . 

and  swa  deofle  betseca'S  hi  sylfe  .  and  heora  beam  .  150 

Sume  hi  acwellaS  heora  cild  sertSam  pe  hi  acennede  beon  . 

otSSe  sefter  acennednysse  .  pcet  hi  cu(5e  ne  beon  . 

ne  heora  manfulla  forligr  ameldod  ne  wurSe  . 

ac  heora  yfel  is  egeslic  .  and  endeleaslic  morS  .  154 

pser  losaS  pcet  cild  laSlice  hseSen  . 

and  seo  arleasa  modor  .  butan  heo  hit  sefre  gebete  . 

Sume  hi  wyrcaS  heora  wogerum  drencas  . 

oStSe  sumne  wawan  .  pcet  hi  hi  to  wife  habbon  .  158 

Ac  Jjyllice  sceandas  sceolan  sitSian  to  belle  . 

J?aer  hi  sefre  cwylmiacS  on  j^am  cwealmbserum  fyre 

and  on  egeslicum  witum  .  for  heora  gewitleaste  . 

Ac  cristene  men  sceolan  campian  witS  deofla  162 

mid  strangum  geleafan  .  swa  swa  gelserede  cempan  . 

134.  D.E.  mage.     E.  gehelppan.  141.  E.  -fulnesse. 

135.  D.E.  J)onne.  142.  D.E.  eallwealdend. 

136.  D.E.    cristena.      D.E.    sceal.  143.  D.E.  sceolon.     D.  selcre. 
E.  drihtene.  144.  D.  bletsian. 

137.  D.E.  munde.  145.  D.  afligan  ;  E.  aflygan. 

138.  D.E.   gescylde.      D.    syrwun-  146.  E.  rdde. 

ge.  147.  D.  sigebeann  (sic). 

^  Leaf  82. 


XVII.    ON   AUGURIES.  375 

can  help  them,  or  give  them  health,  134 

when  they  themselves  never  stir  from  the  place. 

The  Christian  man  must  cry  to  his  Lord 

with  mind  and  with  mouth,  and  beseech  His  protection, 

that  He  may  shield  him  against  the  devil's  snares,  138 

and  set  his  hope  in  the  true  God, 

Who  alone  ruleth  over  all  creatures, 

that  He  may  provide  for  his  safety, 

even,  lo !   as  He  will,  as  being  the  all-ruling  God.  14a 

We  should  on  every  occasion  and  in  every  trouble 

cross  ourselves  with  true  faith, 

and  by  the  sign  of  the  Cross  put  to  flight  the  wicked  ones, 

because  the  wicked  devil  was  vanquished  by  the  Cross,  146 

and  it  is  ever  our  beacon  of  victory  against  the  fiend. 

Likewise  some  witless  women  go  to  cross-roads, 
and  draw  their  children  through  the  earth, 
and  thus  commit  themselves  and  their  children  to  the  devil.        150 
Some  of  them  kill  their  children  before  they  are  born, 
or  after  birth,  that  they  may  not  be  discovered, 
nor  their  wicked  adultery  be  betrayed; 

but  their  wickedness  is  awful,  and  everlasting  their  perdition.     154 
Then  the  child  perisheth,  a  loathsome  heathen, 
and  the  wicked  mother,  unless  she  ever  do  penance  for  it. 
Some  of  them  devise  drinks  [philtres]  for  their  wooers, 
or  some  mischief,  that  they  may  have  them  in  marriage.        158 
But  such  shameful  ones  shall  go  to  hell, 
where  they  shall  ever  suffer  in  the  tormenting  fire, 
and  in  awfiil  punishments,  for  their  witlessness. 
But  Christian  men  must  fight  against  devils  i6a 

by  strong  faith,  like  trained  champions, 

148.  E.  gewitleasa.     D.E.  wif,    D.  157.  D.  heo  (/or  hi).     D.  draencas. 

gewega.  158.  D.    sume.     D.    habban;    E. 

151.  D.E.  ser  ))an.     E.  beoS.  habban  sceolon. 

152.  E.    accennednysse.      D.    heo  159.  E.  ])yllce.     D.  sceolon. 
{for  hi).  160.  D.  ])8eni  cwaelm-bserurre. 

153.  D.E.  manfuUe.  161.  D.  om.  and.     E.  fora  {sic). 

155.  D.  locaS;    E.  losiaS.      D.E,  162.  E.  menn.     D.  sceolon.  / 
ladlice.                                                             163.  D.  cenpan  {sic). 

156.  D.E.  baton. 


376  XVII.     DE    AUGURIIS. 

and  forhogian  pa.  hsetsan  .  and  Syllice  hae'Sen-gyld  . 
and  Jjses  deofles  dydrunga  .  and  heora  drihten  arwurSian  . 
Jjonne  gesih]?  se  deofol  \)cet  ge  hine  forseo'S  .  i66 

and  him  bi'S  Jjonne  wi  on  his  awyrigedum  mode  . 
i)cet  ge  swa  anrgede  beocS  .  and  nimS  andan  to  eow  . 
and  wile  eow  geswencan  mid  sumere  untrum-nysse  . 
ocSSe  sum  eowre  orf  ardlice  acwellan  .  170 

forSan  ])e  he  mot  aelces  mannes  afandian  . 
on  manega  wisan  .  hwaetJer  his  mod  wille 
abugan  Jjurh  t5a  ehtnysse  fram  ?Sam  selmihtigan  gode  . 
Ac  wite  ge  to  wissan  Tpcet  se  wselhreowa  deofol  174 

ne  mseg  mannum  derian  mid  nan^re  untrumnysse 
7  ne  heora  orf  adydan  butan  drihtnes  ge]?afunge  . 
God  is  eall  godnyss  .  and  he  aefre  wel  wile  . 
ac  manna  yfelnysse  mod  beon  gestyrod  .  178 

Jjonne  getSafatS  god  J?am  sceoccan  for  oft  . 
pcet  he  men  geswence  for  heora  mis-dsedum  . 
Us  is  to  secenne  gif  we  geswencte  beocS  . 

]3a  bote  aet  gode  .  na  set  (Sam  gramlican  wiccum  .  182 

and  mid  ealra  heortan  urne  hselend  gladian  . 
forSan  }>e  his  mihte  ne  mseg  nan  Sincg  witSstandan  . 
He  cwsetS  on  his  godspelle  .  ])cet  buton  godes  dihte  . 
furtSon  an  fugel  ne  befylS  on  deatSe  .  186 

Wen  is  pcet  he  wille  bewitan  d  his  menn  , 
ge  on  life  .  ge  on  deacSe  .  Jjonne  se  lytla  fugel 
ne  befyl}?  on  grin  butan  godes  willan  . 

Ure  drihten  adrsefde  deoflu  mid  his  hsese  of  anum  wodum  menn  . 
pa  wses  t5ser  gehende  .  an  heord  swina  .  191 

and  hi  ^  sona  bsedon  pcet  hi  moston  faran  into  tSam  swynum  . 

164.  D.'E.  hasisun  {as  in  text).  176.  E.  drihtenes. 

165.  D.E.  dydrunge.   D.  awurj)ian.  177.  E.  his  {for  is).     D.  godnys  ; 

166.  D.  forsiaS.  E.  gddnes.     D.  haefre. 

167.  D.  wa.     E,  awyrgedum.  178.  D.  yfelnyssa.    D.E.  gestyred. 

169.  D.  geswsencan.    D.  sume.    E.  180.  E.  menn.     D.  geswaence. 
-nesse.  181.  D.  geswsencte. 

170,  D.  eowasr ;  E.  eower.  182.  E.  ins.  secan  before  Jja  bote. 

174.  D,  gewissan.     D.  deoful.  D.  to  gode.     D.E.  gramlicum. 

175.  E.  untrum-nesse.  183.  D.  ealre ;  E.  eallre, 

^  Leaf  82,  back.  ^  Above  the  line. 


XVII.    ON   AUGURIES.  377 

and  shun  those  hags,  and  such  heathendom, 

and  the  devil's  delusions,  and  worship  their  Lord. 

Then  will  the  devil  see  that  ye  despise  him,  166 

and  it  will  be  grievous  to  him,  in  his  accursed  mind, 

that  ye  are   so   stedfast,   and  he   will  take   indignation    against 

you, 
and  will  vex  you  with  some  sickness, 

or  suddenly  kill  some  of  your  cattle,  170 

because  he  must  try  every  man, 
in  many  ways,  whether  his  mind  will 
swerve  through  persecution  from  the  Almighty  God. 

But  know  ye  for  certain,  that  the  cruel  devil  174 

cannot  hurt  men  by  any  sickness, 

neither  destroy  their  cattle,  without  the  Lord's  permission."^ 
God  is  all  goodness,  and  He  ever  willeth  well, 
but  the  minds  of  men  may  be  excited  to  evil ;  178 

then  God  permitteth  the  devil  very  often 
to  afflict  men  for  their  misdeeds. 
We  ought  to  seek,  if  we  be  afflicted, 

restoration  from  God,  not  from  the  cruel  witches,  182 

and  with  all  our  hearts  please  our  Saviour, 
because  nothing  can  withstand  His  might. 
He  saith  in  His  gospel  that,  without  God's  command, 
not  even  a  bird  falleth  in  death.  186 

It  is  to  be  expected  that  He  will  ever  watch  over  His  servants 
both  in  life  and  in  death,  since  the  little  bird 
falleth  not  into  a  snare  without  God's  will. 
Our  Saviour  drave  devils  by  His  hest  out  of  a  possessed  man. 
There  was  then  nigh  at  hand  an  herd  of  swine,  191 

and    they    straightway    prayed    that   they    might   go    into    the 
swine, 

184.  D.  for])aw.     E.  t>ing.  189.  D.  beflihS;  E.  befeal«.    D.E. 

185.  D.E.  butan.  buton. 

186.  D.  beflytS  {sic).  190.  D.E,  wodan.     D.  men. 

187.  D.  ic  {for  is).     D.  men.     E.  191.  D.   gehaende.      E.   flocc   {for 
omits  1.  187,  and  part  of  1.  188,  to  heord).     D.  swinan. 

dea'Se.  '  ig2.  D.heo  {for first  hi). 

188.  D.  J)anne. 


378  XVII.    DE   AUGURIIS. 

and  drihten  geSafode  Tpa  tSam  deoflum  J^get . 

Hi  Sa  into  J?am  swynum  .  and  hi  ealle  aweddan  .  194 

and  urnon  to  (Ssere  sse  .  and  sona  adruncon  . 

Ne  mseg  se  deofol  mannum  derian  butan  godes  tSafunge  . 

ne  heora  tSincg  amjT^ran  .  J)onne  h.6  ne  moste  faran 

furtSon  on  J^a  swin  .  butan  him  getSafode  J^aes  se  hselend  .       198 

Gif  us  deofol  drecS  .  olppe  ure  Jjincg  adyd 

pcet  getimaS  Jjonne  swa  for  twam  intingum  . 

oippe  god  swa  J^reaS  ure  'Swyrlican  dseda  . 

otSSe  he  ure  afandatS  on  tSsere  frecednysse  .  20a 

and  se  sceocca  sceall  aswseman  set  us  . 

gif  we  anrsede  beotS  on  urum  geleafan  . 

and  crist  hine  adrsefS  pcet  he  us  derian  ne  mseg 

gif  we  ?Sa  ehtnysse  eadmodlice  forberatS  .  306 

and  butan  ceorunge  symle  gode  Jjancige  . 

Us  becym'S  swa  |3eah  eall  J^aet  to  gode  . 

gif  we  beotS  getSyldige  .  and  |?anciatS  urum  drihtne  . 

and  on  tJsere  fandunge  his  fultumes  biddatS .  a  10 

sej?e  ea'Selice  mseg  us  aefre  ahreddan 

fram  eallum  fraecednyssum  feondlicra  costnunga  . 

Lsecedom  is  alyfed  fram  lichamena  tyddernysse  . 

and  halige  gebedu  mid  godes  bletsunge  .  214 

and  ealla  otSre  tilunga  syndon  andssete  gode  . 

swa  swa  paulus  awrat  Jjysum^  wordum  cweSende  . 

Ne  mage  ge  samod  drincan  .  ures  drihtnes  calic  . 

and  tSses  deofles  cuppan  .  to  deatSe  eowre  sawle  .  218 

and  ure  drihten  cwaeS  .  Ipcet  man  gecwseman  ne  maeg 

twam  hlafordum  set-somne  .  pcet  he  ne  forseo  J)one  otSerne  . 

ne  we  ne  magon  gecwseman  .  criste  and  deofle  . 

Nu  secgaS  sume  menn  \)cet  him  sceole  gelimpan  222 

193.  D.  p&n  {for  Sam).  199.  D.  adyt;  E.  adydt. 

1 94.  D.  swinum.     D.E.  aweddon.  200.  E.  ))onne  getimaS  ^cet. 

195.  D.  uman  into,    D.  adruncan.  202.  E.  fraecednesse. 

196.  D.E.  buton.     D.E.  gej)afunge.  203.  D.E.  sceal. 

197.  D.E.  J)ing.     D.E.  he.  207.  D.  buton.     D.E.  J)ancia'5. 
T98.  D.    an   (/or  on).     E.   swyn.  208.  D.  eal. 

D.E.  buton.     D.  heom.  209.  E.  drihtene. 

1  Leaf  83. 


XVII.    ON   AUGURIES.  379 

and  thereupon  the  Lord  granted  it  to  the  devils. 

Then  they  [entered]  into  the  swine,  and  they  all  became  mad,    194 

and  ran  to  the  sea,  and  forthwith  were  drowned. 

The  devil  cannot  hurt  men  without  God's  permission, 

nor  mar  their  property,  since  he  could  not  go 

even  into  the  swine,  unless  the  Saviour  permitted  him.  198 

If  the  devil  vexeth  us  or  destroyeth  our  property, 

then  it  so  betideth  us  for  [one  of]  two  reasons; 

either  God  so  punisheth  our  perverse  deeds, 

or  He  proveth  us  through  the  peril,  aoa 

and  the  fiend  shall  vanish  away  from  us, 

if  we  be  steadfast  in  our  faith, 

and  Christ  shall  drive  him  away  that  he  shall  not  harm  us, 

if  we  humbly  endure  the  persecution,  206 

and  ever  thank  God  without  murmuring. 

Nevertheless  it  will  all  happen  to  us  for  good, 

if  we  be  patient  and  thank  our  Lord, 

and  in  the  trial  pray  for  His  assistance,  310 

who  can  always  easily  deliver  us 

from  all  perils  of  fiendish  temptations. 

Medicine  is  granted  for  bodily  infirmity, 

and  holy  prayers,  with  God's  blessing;  a  14 

and  all  other  aids  are  hateful  to  God, 

even  as  Paul  wrote,  saying  these  words, 

*  Ye  cannot  drink  both  our  Lord's  chalice 

and  the  devil's  cup  to  the  death  of  your  souls;'  a  18 

and  our  Lord  said,  that  'a  man  cannot  please 

two  masters  at  once,  lest  he  should  despise  one;' 

neither  can  we  please  both  Christ  and  the  devil. 

Now  some  men  say  that  it  must  happen  to  them  aaa 

a  10.  D.  ])aerse.  217.  E.  drihtenes. 

211.  E.  e^lice.  218.  D.  deowes  {sic)  cuppan.     E. 

212.  D.  frecednyssum  feondliccra.  sauwle. 

213.  D.E.  for  (/orfram).    E.  licha-  219.  D.E.  gecweman.     D.  msege. 
mene.  221.  D.E.    gecweman.     D.   deowe 

214.  E.  bedu.  (/o»- deofle). 

215.  D.E.  ealle.  D. oiJSre.  E.  gode  223.  D.  men. 
andssete. 


380  XVII.     DE   AUGURIIS. 

swa  swa  him  gesceapan  wees  .  and  geset  set  fruman  . 
and  ne  magon  forbugan  Ipcet  hi  mis-faran  ne  sceolan  . 
Nu  secge  we  to  sot5an  gif  hit  swa  beon  sceall 
[pcet  hit  is  unnyt  bebod]  (5e  god  behead  jjurh  dauid  .  Declina  i 
malo  et  fac  bonum  226 

Buh  fram  yfle  .  and  do  god.     And  eft  se  apostol  cwsetS  . 
swa  man  swySor  swincS  for  gode  .  swa  he  selran  mede  hsefS  . 
Gif  eelces  mannes  lif  sefre  sceola  swa  gin  . 

Tpcet  he  ne  maege  forbugan  bysmorlice  dseda  .  230 

Jjonne  biS  unrihtlic  pcet  tSa  unrihtwisan  onfon 
senigne  witnunge  for  heora  wohnysse  . 
Eac  c5a  arfaestan  beocS  wolice  gearwurcSode  . 
gif  Ipcet  soS  beon  maeg  pcet  him  swa  gesceapen  waes  .  234 

and  on  unnyt  we  swincaS  on  urum  Jjeowdome  . 
0(5(56  on  selmyssum  .  oppe  on  otSrum  dsedum  . 
gif  we  his  na  maran  edlean  set  urum  drihtne  nabba(5 . 
}?onne  Sa  receleasan  menn  .  pe  butan  ge-rade  lybbatS  .  238 

and  on  eallum  Jjingum  wadatS  on  heora  agenum  willan  . 
and  on  heora  lustum  heora  lif  aspendaS  . 
God  selmihtig  gesceop  nianega  gesceaffca  . 

and  heora  nanum  ne  forgeaf  agenre^  freo-dom  .  242 

oj3j?e  gesceadwisnysse  .  butan  tSam  scinendum  englum  . 
and  menniscum  gesceafta  .  pe  he  mid  his  handum  gesceop 
pas  twa  gesceafta  habba(5  gescead^v^isnysse  . 

and  selc  man  hsefS  agenne  freo-dom  .  246 

pcet  he  wdt  hwset  he  wile  .  and  wdt  hwset  he  nele  . 
ac  god  us  ne  nyt  swa  Jjeah  pcet  we  god  don  sceolon  . 
ne  eac  us  ne  forwyrntS  yfel  to  wyrcenne  . 

223.  D.E.  gesceapen.     D.  frumen.  229.  D.   om.  sefre.     D.  sceole  ;   E. 

224.  D.E.  hi.     D.E.  sceolon.  sceolde, 

225.  D.E.  sceal.  230.  D.E.  mage.     D.  bysmserlice. 

226.  D.E.   insert   \)cet   .  .  .   bebod,  231.  D.  ])one.    E.  unrihtlice.    D.E. 
which  MS.  Jul.  omits.   D.E.  \icet  {for  onfon. 

Se).     E.  bebad.     D.E.  Declina  ;  MS.  232.  E.  aenige. 

Jul.  has  Decline,  236.  D.E.  ajlmessum. 

227.  D.E.  yfele.    E.  g6d.  237.  E.  edlan.     E.  drihtene. 

228.  D.  swa  swa  man.  238.  D.  men. 

*  So  in  MS. ;  read  agenne  ;  see  1.  246. 


XVII.     ON   AUGUEIES. 


381 


even  as  it  was  determined  for  them  and  ordained  from  the  be- 
ginning, 

and  that  they  cannot  avoid  acting  amiss. 

Now  say  we  of  a  truth,  if  it  is  to  be  so, 

[that  it  is  a  useless  command]  which  God  commanded  through 
David,  '  Declina  a  malo  et  fac  bonum  :  226 

Turn  from  evil  and  do  good:'  and  again  the  Apostle  saith, 

*  How  nluch  the  more  a  man  laboureth  for  God,  so  much  better 
reward  shall  he  have : ' 

if  each  man's  life  can  ever  take  such  a  course 

that  he  ccmnot  turn  aside  from  shameful  deeds,  230 

then  it  is  unjust  for  the  unrighteous  to  receive 

any  punishment  for  their  wickedness. 

Likewise  the  good  are  unjustly  honoured, 

if  it  can  be  true  that  it  was  so  determined  for  them  ;  234 

and  we  labour  in  vain  in  our  service, 

either  in  alms,  or  in  other  deeds, 

if  we  have  no  more  reward  from  our  Lord  for  it, 

than  those  reckless  men  who  live  without  consideration,  238 

and  go  in  all  things  by  their  own  will, 

and  spend  their  lives  in  their  own  pleasures. 

God  Almighty  formed  many  creatures, 

and  gave  to  none  of  them  their  own  freedom  242 

or  reason,  save  to  the  shining  angels 

and  to  men,  of  the  creatures  whom  He  formed  by  His  hands. 

These  two  creations  possess  reason, 

and  every  man  hath  his  own  freedom,  246 

so  that  he  knoweth  what  he  willeth,  and  knoweth  what  he  nilleth, 

but  nevertheless  God  compelleth  us  not  to  do  good, 

neither  doth  He  debar  us  from  working  evil, 


239.  E.  om.  on.    D.  wsendaS;   E. 
weda'5. 

240.  D.E.  lif. 

242.  D.  na  (/orne).   D.E,  agenne. 
D.  freodom ;  E.  frigdom, 

243.  E.  -wisnesse.     D.  buton. 

244.  E.  gesceafte. 


246.  E.    mann.      E.    agene.      D. 
freodom. 

247.  D.E.  wat  {thrice).     D.E.  he 
{twice). 

248.  D.  net.     E.  sceolon  d6a, 

249.  D.  yfele. 


383  XVII.      DE    AUGUUIIS. 

fortSan  J)e  he  us  forgeaf  agenne  eyre  .  250 

He  sealde  switSe  faeste  gife  .  and  swy]?e  fseste  .  se  . 

mid   jjsere   gife    selcum   menn    otS    his    ende    .    earmum    .    and 

eadigum. 
pcet  is  seo  gifu  pcet  se  man  mot  don  pcet  he  wile  . 
and  Ipcet  is  seo  .  se  .  pcet  god  forgylt  selcum  menn  be  his  gewyrhtum  . 
segtSer  ge  on  J^ysre  worulde  .  ge  ^  on  Jjsere  toweardan  .  255 

swa  god  .  swa  yfel  .  swa  hwsetSer  swa  he  begsetS  . 
Gif  hwa  nu  wundrige  hwi  god  wolde 

forgifan  J^am  yfelum  mannum  agenne  freo-dom  .  258 

Jjone  he  wat  on  aer  pcet  hi  yfel  don  willatS  . 
Nu  cwecSe  we  pcet  hit  ne  gerist  nanum  ricum  cynincge 
pcet  hi  ealle  beon  Jjeowe  menn  tSe  him  Jjenian  sceolon  . 
and  on  his  anwealde  ne  beo  furtSon  an  frig  man  .  262 

Swa  eac  ne  gedafnode  Jjam  selmihtigan  drihtne 
pcet  on  eallum  his  rice  nsere  senig  gesceaft 
pe  nsere  on  Seowte  Jjearle  genyrwed  . 

Nu  behofaS  ure  freo-dom  gefre  godes  fultumes  .  266 

forjjan  tJe  we  ne  dotS  nan  god  butan  godes  fultume  . 
Se  us  gewissige  .  k  on  c5ysre  worulde  . 
and  to  pavQ.  ecan  life  gelsede  ]?urh  hine  sylfne  . 
swa  swa  h6  ]?am  eallum  beh6t  J^e  hine  lufiatS  .  270 

Sy  him  wuldor  and  lof  4  to  worulde.     Amen. 

252.  D.  men.  257.  D.  om.  nu. 

253.  D.E.  don.  258.  D.    Jan    yfelen.      D.    agene. 

254.  D.E.  ae.     D.  men.  D.E.  freodom. 

255.  D.E.  fissere.     D.  towerdan.  259.  D.E.  Jionne.   D.E.  wat.    D.E. 

256.  D.  god.  ser. 

^  Leaf  83,  back. 


XVII.     ON   AUGURIES.  383 

because  He  hath  given  us  our  own  choice.  350 

He  gave  a  most  stedfast  gift  and  a  most  stedfast  law 

together  with  that  gift,  to  every  man  until  his  end,  both  to  poor 

and  rich. 
This  is  the  gift,  that  a  man  may  do  what  he  will, 
and  this  is  the  law,  that  God  recompenseth  to  every  man  accord- 
ing to  his  works,  254 
both  in  this  world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come, 
whether  good  or  evil,  whichsoever  he  practiseth. 
Now  if  any  man  should  wonder  why  God  willed 
to  give  to  evil  men  their  own  freedom,  258 
when  He  knoweth  beforehand,  that  they  will  do  evil : 
then  say  we,  that  it  becometh  not  any  rich  king, 
that  they  all  should  be  slaves  who  have  to  serve  him, 
and  that  there  should  not  be  one  free  man  in  his  dominion,         262 
So  likewise  it  befitted  not  the  Almighty  Lord, 
that  in  all  His  kingdom  there  should  not  be  any  creature 
who  should  not  be  strictly  compelled  in  doing  service. 
Now  our  freedom  ever  needeth  God's  assistance,  266 
because  we  can  do  no  good  thing  without  God's  help; 
may  He  ever  guide  us  in  this  world, 
and  bring  us  through  Himself  to  the  eternal  life, 
even  as  He  promised  to  all  them  that  love  Him.  270 
To  Him  be  praise  and  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

260,  D.E.  cyninge.  267.  E.    buton.      D.E.    gife   {for 

261.  D.E.  om.  hi.  fultume). 

262,  E,    om.  on.     D.  forjjon.     E.  268.  D.E,  us.    D.E.  Ijissere, 
mann,  269.  E.  eccan. 

263.  D,     gejafenode  ;  E,   gedafe-  270,  D.E.  he,     D.E.  behet. 
node.    E.  drihtene.  271.  E.  lof  "j  wuldor,  a;  om.  to. 


384  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCEPRTVS    DE    LIBRO    REGUM. 

XVIII. 

SERMO  EXCERPTVS  DE  LIBEO  REGUM. 

[Collated  with  MS.  Jun.  23,  fol.  131  b,  which  has  numerous  alterations;  only 
the  more  correct  forms  are  given  here.] 

SAUIi   HATTE    SE    FORMA   CYNING  )?E    OFER   GODES   FOLC  BlXOde  . 
Se  wees  to  cynincge  ahafen  swySor  for  folces  gecorennysse 
fjonne  tSurh  godes  raed.     Fela  otJre  cynincgas 
rixodon  ser  geond  ealne  middan-eard  ofer  hsetSenum  leodum  .     4 
ac  ofer  israhela  folc  ]?e  on  god  belyfde 
nses  nan  eor'Slic  cynincg  gerSan  pe  saul 
swa  swa  hi  sylfe  gecuron  ofer  hi  cynerice  under-fencg  . 
Se  beah  hrsedlice  fram  Jjses  selmihtigan  godes  willan  8 

and  nolde  be  his  wissunge  and  be  his  witegan  lare  faran  . 
and  se  yfela  gast  hine  drehte  mid  deofollicum  sticelsum  . 
and  on  ungewitte  his  mod  awende  . 

pa  forseah  se  selmihtiga  god  Jjone  saul  set  nextan  .  12 

and  hine  of  his  rice  awearp  be  his  agenum  gewyrhtum  . 
and  geceas  him  ^  to  cynincge  }jone  cenan  dauid  . 
SecSe  butan  wsepnum  gewylde  (5a  leon  . 

and  Ipses  beran  ceaflas  to-brsec  mid  his  handum  .  16 

and  ahredde  pcef  gelsehte  sc6p  of  his  scearpum  toSum  . 
He  ofwearp  eac  sytScSan  }?one  swyj)lican  ent 
goliam  ]3one  gramlican  pe  godes  naman  hyrwde  . 
and  mid  gebeote  clypode  bysmor  godes  folce  .  20 

gearu  to  anwige  mid  ormettre  wsepnunge  . 
Hwset  ^)3a  dauid  code  togeanes  Jjam  ente  . 
and  ofwearp  mid  his  lij^eran  Jjone  geleafleasan  ent  . 
bufon  (5am  eagan  pcet  he  beah  to  eorSan  .  24 

Gelsehte  J^a  of  ?5am  ente  his  agen  swurd  . 
and  his  ormsete  heafod  mid  pava.  of  asloh  . 
and  hsefde  'Sa  gewunnen  sige  his  leode  . 
Be  J?ysum  dauide  cwsetS  se  selmihtiga  wealdend  .  28 

2.  cyninge ;  for  ^aes.  3.  Feala;  cyningas.  4.  aeror,  6,  cyning. 

*  ceas,  with  ge  and  him  above  the  line.  '  Leaf  84. 


XVIII.     FROM   THE   BOOK   OP   KINGS.  385 

XVIII. 

FROM  THE  BOOK  OF  KINGS. 

SAUL  was  the  name  of  the  first  king  who  reigned  over  God's 
people. 
He  was  raised  to  be  king  rather  by  the  people's  choice 
than  by  God's  counsel.     Many  other  kings 
had  reigned  before  throughout  the  whole  world  over  heathen  nations ; 
but  over  the  people  of  Israel,  who  believed  in  God,  5 

there  was  no  earthly  king  before  that  Saul 
(as  they  had  themselves  chosen)  assumed  the  dominion  over  them. 
He  turned  quickly  aside  from  the  will  of  Almighty  God,  8 

and  would  not  walk  by  His  instruction  and  by  the  teaching  of 

His  prophets, 
and  the  evil  Spirit  troubled  him  with  diabolic  instigations, 
and  turned  his  reason  into  madness. 

Then  at  last  Almighty  God  rejected  this  Saul,  la 

and  cast  him  out  of  his  kingdom  according  to  his  own  deserts, 
and  chose  for  Himself  as  king  the  brave  David, 
who  without  weapons  had  conquered  the  lion, 
and  had  rent  the  bear's  jaws  with  his  hands,  16 

and  had  delivered  the  captured  sheep  from  his  sharp  teeth. 
He  likewise  overthrew  afterward  the  mighty  giant, 
Goliath  the  cruel,  who  blasphemed  God's  name, 
and  with  threats  cried  shame  upon  God's  people,  20 

armed  for  single  combat  with  exceeding  great  weapons. 
Lo  then!     David  went  against  the  giant, 
and  with  his  sling  struck  the  unbelieving  giant 
above  the  eyes,  so  that  he  bowed  to  the  earth,  24 

Then  he  took  from  the  giant  his  own  sword, 
and  struck  off  his  huge  head  therewith, 
and  so  won  the  victory  for  his  people. 
Concerning  this  David  spake  the  Almighty  Ruler  28 

7.  rice  underfeng,  10.  deofellicum,  14,  ce&s(alt.  to  che&a)  ;  cyninge, 

15.  leo,  17.  sc^ap.  21.  ormsettre,  24.  bufan ;  eagum. 

25 


386  XVIII.    SERMO   EXCEEPTVS   DE   LIBRO   REGUM. 

pcet  he  hine  gecure  j^us  cwetSende  . 

Ic  afunde  me  dauid  sefter  minre  heortan  . 

pcet  he  ealne  minne  willan  mid  weorcum  gefremme  . 

pes  dauid  wes  witega  and.  wuldorful  cyningc  .  32 

and  gode  gelicode  o?S  his  lifes  ende  . 

and  mid  ealre  heortan  him  gehyrsumode  d,  . 

He  wses  fortSi  maere  on  micclum  ge'5inc]?u7»  . 

fortSan  Jje  he  cepte  symle  hu  he  cwemde  gode  .  36 

-liEfter  him  rixodon  on  israhela 

manega  cyningas  mislice  geworhte  . 

Sume  hi  gelyfdon  on  jjone  lyfigendan  god  . 

sume  on  hseSengildum  him  sylfum  to  forwyrde  .  40 

and  ]?a  tJe  god  wurSodon  wurdon  gemsersode  . 

and  sige-fseste  wseron  Symle  on  gefeohte  . 

Jja  tSe  fram  gode  bugon  to  bysmor-fullum  haeSenscype 

Jja  wurdon  gescynde  .  and  d  unsigefeste  .  44 

An  Jjgera  wses  achab  se  arleasa  cyning  . 

pe  forseah  his  scyppend  and  ge-ceas  him  bddl 

J)8era  haeSenra  god  ,  Tpe  nsefde  nane  godnysse 

ac  waes  gramlic  deofol  mid  ge-dwylde  afunden ;  48 

Jjyses  cyninges  cwen  wses  forcujsost  wifa  . 

Gezabel  gehaten  hetelice  gemodod  . 

Seo  tihte  byre  wer  to  selcere  wselhreownysse  . 

and  hi  tyrgdon  god  mid  gramlicum  weorcum  .  53 

On  J?am  dagum  wses  helias  halig  godes  witega  . 

se  absed  set  gode  pcet  he  Sam  yfelan  cynincge 

r6n-scuras  oftuge  .  for  his  recSnysse  . 

Eode  pa.  fortS  feortSe  healfgear  56 

butan  r6n-scurum  and  reocendum  deawe  . 

and  se  witega  helias  gewende  of  ?5am  lande  . 

and  god  hine  afedde  Jjurh  fugela  tSenunga  . 

d^cet  he  hine  asende  to  sumere  wydewan  60 

on  sidoniscum  earde  .  and  hire  ssede  se  witega , 

Dus  cwseS  israhela  god  .  pcet  tSe  ele  ne  ateoratS . 

32.  wses ;  wuldorfull  cyning.  40.  hseSengild.  47.  godcundnysse. 

52.  tyrigdon.  54.  cyninge. 


XVIII.    FROM   THE   BOOK    OP   KINGS.  387 

that  He  had  chosen  him,  thus  saying, 

*I  have  found  Me  David,  after  Mine  own  heart, 

that  he  will  perform  all  My  will  by  his  works.' 

This  David  was  a  prophet  and  a  wonderful  king,  33 

and  pleased  God  to  his  life's  end, 

and  ever  obeyed  Him  with  all  his  heart. 

He  was  therefore  exalted  to  great  honours, 

because  he  ever  sought  how  he  might  please  God.  36 

After  him  reigned  over  the  kingdom  of  Israel 
many  kings,  diversely  disposed; 
Some  believed  in  the  living  God, 

some  in  idols  to  their  own  destruction,  40 

and  those  who  worshipped  God  were  exalted 
and  were  always  victorious  in  fight; 
as  for  those  who  turned  from  God  to  shameful  idolatry, 
they  were  put  to  shame,  and  were  ever  unsuccessful.  44 

One  of  these  was  Ahab  the  wicked  king 
who  despised  his  Creator,  and  chose  to  him  Baal, 
the  god  of  the  heathen,  who  had  no  goodness, 
but  was  a  cruel  devil,  detected  in  heresy.  48 

This  king's  queen  was  the  most  infamous  of  women, 
called  Jezebel,  fiercely  minded. 
She  incited  her,  husband  to  every  cruelty, 

and  they  provoked  God  with  hostile  works.  52 

In  those  days  was  Elijah,  a  holy  prophet  of  God, 
who  besought  God  that  He  would  withdraw  rain-showers 
from  the  evil  king,  for  his  cruelty; 

so  three  years  and  a  half  passed  by  56 

without  rain-showers  and  reeking  dew, 
and  the  prophet  Elijah  departed  out  of  that  land, 
and  God  fed  him  by  the  ministrations  of  birds, 
until  He  sent  him  to  a  certain  widow  60 

in  the  Sidonian  country,  and  the  prophet  said  to  her; 
'Thus  saith  the  God  of  Israel,  that  oil  shall  not  fail  thee, 

55.  renscuras.  58.  elias,  59    penunge.  60,  wudewan. 

25-2 


388  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCERPTVS    DE    LIBRO    REGUM. 

ne  melu  on  Jjinum  mittan  .  o^pcet  mannum  becymtS 

ren  ofer  eorSan  eow  to  wsestme  .  64^ 

pa  afedde  seo  wudewe  f)one  godes  witegan 

mid  Sam  lytlan  melewe  .  and  j^am  ^gehwsedan  ele  . 

and  funde  ?Sa  fatu  sefre  fuUe  eft  . 

o^lpcet  god  eft  forgeaf  eorSlice  wsestmas  .  68 

Betwux  tSysum  gelamp  pcet  of  life  gewdt 

Jjaere  wudewan  sunu  .  and  se  witega  hine  araerde 

eft  of  deatSe  Jjurh  his  drihtnes  mihte  . 

Eft  tSa  se  selmihtiga  het  Ipone  witegan  72 

faran  to  his  earde  and  to  (5am  arleasan  cynincge  . 

cwsetS  \>cet  he  wolde  sendan  sytSSan  renscuras  . 

Helias  <Sa  ferde  .  and  efne  hine  gemette 

abdias  se  secSela  .  and  se  arwurSfulla  godes  (5egn  .  76 

se  fsegnode  his  tocymes  and  cwaetS  him  Jjus  to  . 

SvvySe  we  axodon  embe  Se  gehwser  . 

and  se  cyning  sende  swycSe  fela  serendracan 

to  gehwylcum  eardum  embe  Jje  axiende  .  80 

Naes  tJe  leof  gecyd  \>cet  ic  cuce  behydde 

hund-teontig  witegan  and  hi  mid  wistum  afedde 

SatSa  gezabel  acwealde  ealle  godes  witegan 

}je  heo  ofaxian  mihte  on  ealre  Sysre  leode  .  84 

Helias  t5a  becom  to  Sam  cyninge  achab  . 

and  he  befrdn  sona  ]5one  soSfsestan  witegan  . 

Eart  Su  Id  helias  Se  israhel  gedrefst? 

pa  andwyrde  se  witega  Jjam  waelhreowan  and  cwseS  .  88 

Ne  gedrsefde  ic  na  ^  israhel  .  ac  gedrefdest  Su  sylf  . 

and  )?ines  fseder  hiwrseden  .  g6  J)e  forleten  god 

and  fyligdon  bddl  mid  fulum  biggencgum  . 

Hat  nu  gelangian  to  me  ealle  pB,  leasan  witegan  92 

Se  JjeowiaS  bddl  .  and  etaS  mid  gezab61  . 

pa  sende  ce  cyning  and  cydde  his  leode  . 

and  het  israhela  folc  and  Sa  facenfullan  witegan 

68.  om.  eft.  73.   cyninge.  76.  abias ;  arfuUa ;  ]>egen.        79.  feaJa. 

81.  Naes  Sege-cydd  la  leof;  cucu.  83,  ezabel  {alt.  to  iesabel). 

^  Leaf  84,  back.  ^  na  above  the  line. 


XVIII.    FROM  THE  BOOK  OP   KINGS.  389 

nor  meal  in  thy  barrel,  until  rain  cometh  to  men 

upon  the  earth,  to  make  it  fruitful  unto  you.'  64 

Then  the  widow  fed  the  prophet  of  God 

with  that  little  meal,  and  the  scanty  oil, 

and  found  the  vessels  ever  full  afterward, 

until  God  gave  again  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  68 

In  the  meantime  it  befel  that  the  widow's  son 

departed  from  life,  and  the  prophet  raised  him 

again  from  death,  through  his  Lord's  might. 

After  that  the  Almighty  bade  the  prophet  7  a 

go  to  his  country,  to  the  wicked  king, 
and  said  that  He  would  send  again  rain-showers. 
So  Elijah  departed,  and  behold  there  met  him 
the  noble  Obadiah;    and  the  worthy  servant  of  God  76 

was  fain  at  his  coming,  and  spake  to  him  thus, 
'Earnestly  have  we  enquired  concerning  thee  everywhere, 
and  the  king  hath  sent  very  many  messengers 
to  every  country,  to  enquire  concerning  thee.  80 

"Was  it  not  told  thee,  lord,  that  I  hid  alive 
one  hundred  and  twenty  prophets,  and  fed  them  with  food, 
when  Jezebel  killed  all  God's  prophets 

whom  she  could  discover  in  all  this  nation?'  84 

Then  Elijah  came  to  king  Ahab, 
and  he  straightway  asked  the  righteous  prophet, 
'Art  thou  that  Elijah,  that  troublest  Israel?' 
Then  the  prophet  answered  the  cruel  one  and  said,  88 

*I   have   not   troubled   Israel,    but   thou   hast   troubled    it    thy- 
self, 
and  thy  father's  house,  ye  who  have  forsaken  God 
and  followed  Baal  with  foul  worship. 

Now  bid  men  call  to  me  all  the  false  prophets  9» 

who  serve  Baal,  and  eat  with  Jezebel.' 
Then  the  king  sent  and  told  his  nation, 
and  bade  the  people  of  Israel  and  the  deceitful  prophets 

84.  jjyssere,  85.  Elias.  89.  gedrefe ;  om.  na.  90.  forleton. 

91.  biggengum,  93.  iezabel.         95.  ]>€et  i  het. 


390  XVIII.    SERMO   EXCEEPTVS   DE   LIBEO   REGUM. 

ealle  endemes  cuman  to  helian  sprsece  .  96 

pa  cwsecS  helias  to  eallre  J^aere  meniu  . 

Hu  lange  wille  ge  healtian  on  twa  healfe  Sus  . 

Gif  ure  drihten  is  god  fyliaS  J)onne  him  . 

Gif  b4dl  is  god  fyliaS  his  biggengum  .  100 

pa  suwode  pcet  folc  .  and  helias  feng  eft  on  . 

Ic  beMf  ana  ealra  godes  witegena  . 

and  baal  heefS  feower  hund  and  fiftig  witegan  . 

Nimon  hi  anne  oxan  .  and  geoifrian  heora  gode  .  104 

and  ic  o'Seme  oxan  geoffrige  minum  gode  . 

and  beon  hi  begen  beworpene  mid  wuda  witSneotSan  . 

Uton  biddan  syStSan  onsundron  set  gode  . 

ic  set  minum  gode  pcet  he  mine  lac  forbserne  108 

mid  upplicum  fyre  .  and  ge  ^  eac  swa  don  . 

beo  Jjonne  se'^  sotS  god  pe  asent  |3set  fyr  ufan  . 

pa  cwse'S  eall  pcet  folc  pcet  he  senlice  spreece  . 

Da  namon  pa,  deofolgildan  J?one  dunnan  oxan  .  112 

bewurpon  mid  wudu  .  on  heora  wisan  to  offrunga. 

and  clypodon  to  bdal  pcp.t  he  heora  bene  gehyrde  . 

Stodon  Sa  fram  eerne-mergen  earmlice  hrymende  . 

otS  ofer  midne  deg  ge-drehte  forc5earle  .  116 

ne  him  answaru  ne  com  ne  seo  offrung  nses  forbaerned  . 

pa  cwsetJ  helias  to  (Sam  leasum  witegum  . 

ClypiatS  git*  hluddor  uncuS  peah  pe  he  slaepe 

pcet  he  hum  awacnige  .  and  eow  wi(5  sprsece  .  120 

Hi  clypodon  pa.  swySor  .  and  hi  sylfe  gedrehton^ 

ac  se  leasa  bddl  ne  mihte  hi  geblyssian  . 

pa  genam  helias  jjone  oj^erne  oxan  . 

beworhte  mid  wuda  on  t5a  ealdan  wisan  124 

Het  tSa  geweeterian  ealne  )70ne  wudu  . 

and  clypode  anmodlice  to  ]3am  selmihtigan  gode  . 

pu  selmihtiga  god  pe  abraham  on  belyfde 

96.  om.  cuman ;  elian.  97.  elias ;  ealre.  98.  healfa,   ^       99,  g(5d. 

100.    bigengum.     loi.  elias.      102.  belaf.      103.  b^^l.      104.  Niman ;  senne. 
105.  geofrige,         106.  mid  wuda  beworpene.  109.  don.        112.  dumban. 

*  Leaf  85.         ^  Above  the  line.         ^  MS.  gewundodon,  alt.  io  gedrehton. 


XVIII.    IROM   THE  BOOK   OF   KINGS.  391 

to  come  all  together  to  have  speech  with  Elijah.  96 

Then  said  Elijah  to  all  that  multitude, 

'  How  long  will  ye  halt  on  two  sides  thus  ? 

If  our  Lord  is  God,  then  follow  Him, 

If  Baal  is  god,  follow  his  service.'  100 

Then  the  people  were  silent,  and  Elijah  resumed, 

*I  only  am  left  of  all  God's  prophets, 

and  Baal  has  four-hundred  and  fifty  prophets. 

Let  them  take  an  ox,  and  offer  to  their  god,  104 

and  I  will  offer  another  ox  to  my  God, 

and  let  them  both  be  surrounded  with  wood  beneath. 

Let  us  afterward  severally  entreat  of  God, 

I  of  my  God,  that  He  will  burn  up  my  sacrifice  108 

with  fire  from  heaven,  and  do  ye  also  likewise ; 

then  let  Him  be  the  true  God  that  sendeth  fire  from  above.' 

Then  said  all  the  people  that  he  had  spoken  excellently. 

Then  the  idolaters  took  the  dun  ox,  112 

surrounded  it  with  wood,  as  was  their  wont  with  sacrifices, 

and  cried  to  Baal  that  he  would  hear  their  prayer. 

They  stood  there  from  early  morning,  lamentably  crying, 

until  over  midday,  exceeding  troubled,  116 

but  no  answer  came  to  them,  nor  was  the  sacrifice  consumed. 

Then  said  Elijah  to  the  false  prophets, 

'Cry  ye  yet  louder,  peradventure  he  sleepeth, 

that  he  may  at  least  awaken  and  answer  unto  you.'  120 

They  cried  then  the  more,  and  afflicted  themselves; 

but  the  false  Baal  could  not  gladden  them. 

Then  Elijah  took  the  other  ox, 

and  surrounded  it  with  wood  in  the  old  manner.  124 

Then  he  bade  men  water  all  the  wood, 

and  cried  with  single  mind  to  the  Almighty  God, 

'Thou  Almighty  God,  in  whom  Abraham  believed, 

113.  beworhton;  wuda;  offrunge.      114.  bena.      115.  -merigen.      116.  dseg. 
117.  andswaru.  118.  elias.  119.  gyt  hludor  ;  om.    pe  ;  slape. 

120.  sprece.        121.  gewundedon  (/or  gedrehton).        122.  baal,       123.  elias. 


392  XVIII.    SERMO   EXCERPTVS   DE   LIBRO   REGUM. 

and  his  sunu  Isddc  .  and  eac  swilce  lacob  .  128 

geswutela  on  J?ysum  daege  \)cet  cSu  eart  sotS  god  . 

and  fjis  folc  oncnawe  cutSlice  mid  geleafan 

pcet  Ipn  eart  drihten  god  pe  heora  heortan  gebigst  . 

^fter  tSisre  clypunge  com  fyr  of  heofonum  .  132 

and  forbaernde  }5one  oxan  and  ealne  tSone  wudu  . 

and  ?5a  twelf  stanas  tSe  stodon  under  (Sam  oxan  . 

pa  feol  eall  pcet  folc  forht  on  gebedum  . 

and  clypode  mid  geleafan  to  tSam  lyfigendan  gode  .  136 

Drihten  sylf  is  god  .  drihten  sylf  is  god  . 

Him  cAvae'S  pa,  to  helias  .  Gelaecca'S  ]?a  witegan 

pe  bdi,le  Seowdon  pcet  heora  ndn  ne  setberste ; 

hi  wurdon  ?Sa  gelsehte  and  gelsedde  to  helian  .  140 

and  he  hi  acwealde  pcet  Jjser  nan  ne  beldf  cucu  . 

He  astdh  tSa  ardlice  up  to  anre  dune  . 

and  gebigedum  cneowum  bsed  <5one  selmihtigan  god 

pcet  he  renas  forgeafe  eortS-bugiendum  .  144 

and  het  his  cnapan  tJa  hwile  hawian  to  Ssere  see  . 

gif  aenig  mist  arise  of  tSam  mycclum  brymme  . 

J3a  gecyrde  se  cnapa  seofon  sitSum  him  to  . 

and  on  tSam  seofotSan  cyrre  ssede  (Sam  witegan  .  148 

poet  an  gehwaede  wolcn  of  Saere  widgillan  sae 

efne  pat,  upp  astige  mid  ]?aere  unscae?S|5igan  ^  lyfte  . 

Efne  tSa*  ards  se  wind  .  and  cSa  wolcnu  sweartodon  . 

and  com  ormaete  sour  of  tSaere  lyfte  .  152 

pa  gewende  se  cyning  aweg  mid  Jjam  rene  . 

and  cydde  his  wife  tSaes  witegan  daeda  . 

and  hu  he  ofsloh  (5a  hae'Sengildan  .  , 

pa  asende  gezabel  ongean  to  helian.  156 

and  swor  Jjurh  hire  godas  mid  syrwigendum  mode  . 

pcet  helias  sceolde  tSaes  on  mergen  sweltan  . 

and  been  anum  gelic  hire  leasra  witegena. 

pa  for-fleah  helias  pcet  fracode  wif  160 

128.  swylce  iacob.  132.  J)yssere.  134.  stodan.  135.  eal. 

138.  elias.  139,  nan*         140.  elian.  141.  om.  cucu.  142.  astah. 

^  Leaf  85,  back. 


XVIII.    FROM  THE  BOOK   OF   KINGS.  393 

and  his  son  Isaac,  and  also  Jacob,  128 

manifest  this  day  that  Thou  art  the  true  God, 

that  this  people  may  know  assuredly  by  faith 

that  Thou  art  the  Lord  God  who  tumest  their  hearts.' 

After  this  invocation  came  fire  from  Heaven  J32 

and  burned  up  the  ox,  and  all  the  wood, 

and  the  twelve  stones  which  stood  under  the  ox. 

Then  fell  down  all  the  people,  terrified,  in  prayer, 

and  cried  with  faith  to  the  living  God,  136 

'The  Lord  Himself  is  God,  the  Lord  Himself  is  God.' 

Then  Elijah  said  to  them,  '  Seize  the  prophets 

who  have  served  Baal,  that  none  of  them  escape.' 

So  they  were  seized  and  brought  to  Elijah,  140 

and  he  slew  them,  that  none  of  them  remained  alive. 

Then  he  went  up  quickly  to  a  mountain, 
and  on  bended  knees  besought  the  Almighty  God, 
That  He  would  give  rains  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth ;    144 
and  bade  his  servant  meanwhile  look  toward  the  sea, 
if  any  mist  were  rising  out  of  the  great  ocean. 
Then  the  servant  returned  to  him  seven  times, 
and  on  the  seventh  return  said  to  the  prophet,  148 

that,  'behold  there  ariseth  one  little  cloud 
out  of  the  wide-reaching  sea,  in  the  stainless  sky.' 
Lo  !  then  the  wind  arose,  and  •  the  clouds  grew  dark, 
and  there  came  a  very  great  shower  from  the  sky.  153 

Then  the  king  went  away,  with  the  rain, 
and  told  his  wife  the  prophet's  deeds, 
and  how  he  had  slain  the  idolaters. 

Then  Jezebel  sent  [men]  to  meet  Elijah,  156 

and  swore  by  her  gods  with  treacherous  mind, 
that  Elijah  should  die  for  this  in  the  morning, 
and  become  like  one  of  her  false  prophets. 
Then  Elijah  fled  away  from  that  wicked  woman,  160 

144.  -bugigendum.  147.  sijjan.  150.  up;  unstaeSSigan. 

151.  aras.        154.  wife.        156.  elian.        158.  elias;  merigen.         160.  eliaa. 


394  XVIII.     SERMO   EXCERPTVS    DE   LIBRO   REGCM. 

ut  to  anum  westene  and  wearS  'Sser  on  slsepe  . 

ac  hine  awrehte  sona  anscinende  godes  engel  . 

het  hine  arisan  and  hine  gereordian  . 

He  geseah  pser  licgan  senue  snaw-hwitne  focan  .  164 

and  an  lytel  fset  ful  wseteres  J)a]5a  he  awacnode  . 

He  set  tSa  and  dranc  .  and  eft  wearS  on  slsepe  . 

ac  se  encgel  hine  awrehte  o}?re  sitSe  .  and  cwset5  . 

Aris  hratSe  .  and  et  .  jju  haefst  swy)3e  langne  weg  .  168 

He  set  eft  .  and  dranc  .  and  code  be  tSam  mete 

feowertig  daga  ondn  .  butan  selcum  gereorde  . 

Sum  \)egen  hatte  nabotS  .  se  hsefde  senne  win-eard 

wits  Sees  cynincges  botl  .  J^a  cwsetS  se  cynincg  him  to  .  172 

Syle  me  Sinne  wineard  me  to  wyrtune  . 

and  ic  pe  o'Serne  finde  on  fyrlene  for-hwega  . 

otStSe  mid  feo  ofgange  fortSan  pe  he  is  me  gehcnde  . 

pa  cwsecS  naboS  him  to  .  pcet  he  ne  mihte  alsetan  176 

his  yldrena  yrfweardnysse  swa  eatSelice  him  to  handa  . 

pa  gebealh  hine  se  cynincg  and  to^  his  bedde  code  . 

wende  hine  to  wage  wodlice  gebolgen  . 

Him  eode  J^a  to  gezabel  and  cwse    .  180 

Hwi  eart  Su  geunrotsod  .  and  pe  gereordian  nelt? 

pa  ssede  se  arleasa  his  yfelan  wife  . 

hu  he  |3aes  win-eardes  gyrnde  .  and  him  forwyrnde  nabotS  . 

pa  olsehte  gezabel  Jjam  unrihtwisan  and  cwset5  .  184 

Aris  and  gereorda  t5e^  mid  rsedfsestum  mode  . 

ic  (Se  forgife  ]5one  wineard  Ce  tSu  gewilnodest  . 

pa  sende  gezabel  sona  anne  pistol  , 

to  nabo'Ses  neh-geburum  mid  J^isum  ge-banne  .  188 

HabbacS  eow  gemot  .  and  to  middes  settatS  nabocS 

eowerne  nehgebur  ,  biddatJ  lease  gewitan 

pcet  hi  hine  forsecgan  on  eowere^  gesamnunge  Sus  . 

NaboS  wyrigde  on  ure  gewitnysse  god  192 

161.  ut.  163.  arisan.  164.  focan  (glossed  kake).  165.  om.  an 

lytel;  full.  167.  engel.  169.  0a  (/or  eft).  171.  wingeard. 

'  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  86. 


XVIII.     FROM  THE  BOOK   OF   KINGS,  395 

out  into  a  wilderness,  and  there  fell  asleep ; 

but  a  shining  angel  of  God  quickly  aroused  him, 

and  bade  him  arise  and  refresh  himself; 

he  saw  there  lying  a  snow-white  cake  (baked  on  the  hearth),       164 

and  a  little  vessel  full  of  water,  when  he  awakened. 

Then  he  ate  and  drank,  and  again  fell  asleep, 

but  the  angel  aroused  him  a  second  time,  and  said, 

'Arise  quickly  and  eat,  thou  hast  a  very  long  journey.'  168 

He  again  ate  and  drank,  and  went  by  help  of  that  meat 

forty  days  together  without  any  food. 

There  was  a  certain  thane  called  Naboth,  who  had  a  vineyard 
hard  by  the  king's  palace;   then  said  the  king  to  him,  172 

'Give  me  thy  vineyard  for  a  herb-garden, 
and  I  will  at  least  find  thee  another  farther  off, 
or  I  will  acquire  it  for  money,  because  it  is  handy  to  me.' 
Then  said  Naboth  to  him  that  he  could  not  let  go  176 

his  ancestors'  inheritance  so  lightly  into  his  hands. 
Then  the  king  became  angry,  and  went  to  his  bed 
and  turned  him  to  the  wall,  madly  enraged. 
Then  Jezebel  went  to  him,  and  said,  180 

'Why  art  thou  sad  and  wilt  not  eat?' 
Then  said  the  wicked  [one]  to  his  evil  wife, 
how  he  longed  for  the  vineyard,  and  Naboth  refused  him. 
Then  Jezebel  soothed  the  unrighteous  man,  and  said,  184 

'Arise  and  refresh  thyself  with  confident  mind, 
I  will  give  thee  the  vineyard  which  thou  desiredst.' 
Then  Jezebel  straightway  sent  a  letter 

to  Naboth's  neighbours,  with  this  proclamation,  188 

'Hold  ye  a  meeting  and  set  Naboth  in  the  midst, 
even  your  neighbour,  and  bid  false  witnesses 
accuse  him  in  your  assembly  thus: 
Naboth,  to  our  knowledge,  hath  cursed  God  192 

172.  cyninges;  cyning.  173.  wyngeard.  174.  hvreerhwega.  {glossed 

pantm).  178.  cyning.  182.  wife,  186.  wingeard.  187.  senne, 

190.  nehgebur.  ")  bidda'5.  191.  eower. 


896  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCEEPTVS   DE    LIBEO  EEGUM. 

and  his  cyne-hlaford  .  acwellaS  hine  siS'San  . 

pa  dydon  }5a  heafod-menn  swa  swa  ])cet  hetelice  wif 

him  on  gewrite  behead  .  and  budon  him^  to  gemote  . 

Fundon  t5a  lease  gewitan  pe  forlugon  nabotS  .  196 

pcet  he  sceolde  wyrigan  wselhreowlice  god  . 

and  his  cyne-hlaford  .  and  acwealdan  hine  mid  stanum  . 

Cyddon  6a  gezabele  .  pcet  nabotS  cucu  nses  . 

Hwset  tJa  gezabel  eode  mid  blysse  200 

to  ]?am  unrihtwisan  cyninge^  .  and  cwaeS  him  (5us  to  . 

Aris  nu  and  hafa  tSe  nabocSes  win-eard  . 

Jjeah  ?Se  he  J^e  tJaes  ne  u(5e  .  h6  is  mi  unlifes  . 

pa  ards  se  arleasa  .  and  ferde  204 

to  nabotSes  winearde  wolde  hine  habban. 

pa  com  him  gangende  to  se  godes  witega  helias  . 

asend  fram  gode  and  ssede  him  tSas  word  , 

Dus  cwsetS  se  selmihtiga  god  .  pu  ofsloge  and  geagnodest  .      208 

Swa  swa  hundas  lapodon  naboSes  blod  . 

swa  hi  sceolon  lapian  and  liccian  J?in  blod  . 

ic  adilegie  j^inne  hired  and  fordo  Jjinne  ofspring  . 

fortSan  pe  Su  me  getyrgdest  and  min  folc  mis-tihtest  .  212 

and  gezabel  sceolon  etan  selegrsedige  hundas  . 

Hwset  tSa  sefter  fyrste  ferde  achdb  se  cyning 

to-geanes  Syrian  cynincge  mid  swytSlicre  fyrdinge  . 

wolde  mid  gewinne  wanian  his  rice  .  216 

Jja  het  Syrian  cyning  sona  his  cepan  . 

\)cet  he  ana  feoUe  of  eallum  his  folce  . 

pa  gebende  an  scytta  sona  his  bogan  . 

and  asc6t  ana  fldn  swylce  on  ungewis  .  220 

and  ataesde  tSone  cyning  betwux  Jjsere  lungene  . 

Tpcet  he  feallende  sweolt  on  tSam  gefeohte  serest  . 

pa  gewende  his  here  aweg  swySe  hratSe 

and  leddon  tSone  cyning  on  his  crsete  swa  deadne  .  224 

194.  -men  ;  hetole.  195.  om.  him.  196.  Fundan.  197.  wyrian. 

201.  om.  cyninge.        202.  Aris;   wingeard.        204.  aras ;  ins.  ardlice  (glossed 
mox  and  iMstanter)  after  arleasa.      205.  wingearde.      206.  elias.      207.  asend 

'  Above  the  line. 


XVIII,    FROM   THE   BOOK   OF   KINGS.  397 

and  his  royal  lord;   and  kill  him  afterwards.' 
Then  the  chief  men  did  even  as  the  hateful  woman 
had  bidden  them  in  the  writ,  and  summoned  him  to  a  meeting, 
and  found  the  false  witnesses  who  belied  Naboth,  [saying]     196 
that  he  had  impiously  cursed  God 
and  his  royal  lord;  and  killed  him  with  stones, 
and  then  told  Jezebel  that  Naboth  was  not  alive. 
Lo  !   then  Jezebel  went  joyously  200 

to  the  unrighteous  king,  and  said  thus  to  him  : 
'Arise  now  and  take  to  thee  Naboth's  vineyard, 
though  he  granted  it  not  to  thee;  he  is  now  lifeless.' 
Then  the  impious  man  arose,  and  sent  304 

to  Naboth's  vineyard,  desiring  to  take  it. 
Then  came,  meeting  him,  God's  prophet  Elijah, 
sent  from  God,  and  said  to  him  these  words, 
'  Thus  spake  the  Almighty  God,  "  thou  hast  slain  and  taken  pos- 
session ;  208 
even  as  dogs  lapped  Naboth's  blood, 
BO  shall  they  lap  and  lick  thy  blood ; 
I  will  consume  thy  family,  and  destroy  thy  offspring, 
because  thou  hast  wearied  me,  and  misled  my  people;  212 
and  greedy  dogs  shall  eat  Jezebel.'" 

So  then  after  some  time  Ahab  the  king  marched 
against  the  king  of  Syria  with  a  very  great  army, 
desiring  by  conquest  to  diminish  his  kingdom.  216 

Then  the  king  of  Syria  straightway  bade  his  men  take  heed 
that  he  [Ahab]  alone  should  fall  of  all  his  people. 
Then  an  archer  presently  bent  his  bow 

and  shot  an  arrow  as  if  uncertainly,  220 

and  smote  the  king  between  the  lungs, 
that  he  died,  being  the  first  that  fell  in  the  fight. 
Then  his  army  turned  away  very  speedily, 
and  brought  the  king  in  his  chariot,  thus  dead,  224 

J)a  fram.        208.  ofslohge,  t  geahnodest.        209,  210.  blod.       211.  adilegige. 
212.  getyrigdest.  214.  achab;  cining.  215.  cyninge;  swiSlicere. 

217.  het.  218.  ^na.         220,  asceat  aneflan;  ungewiss.         224,  Iseddon. 


398  XVIII.    SERMO   BXCEEPTVS   DE   LIBRO   EEGUM. 

and  his  blod  ©a  fleow  binnon  t5am  crsete  . 

Ipcet  liccodon  hundas  tJaSa  hi  hdm  comon  . 

Da  feng  his  sunu  sona  to  his  rice  . 

oozias  gehaten  swy'Se  yfel-dseda  .  228 

He  ferdeswa  swa  his  forcucSa^  feeder  and  swa  swa  his  fracode  modor 

him  yfele  gebysnodon  .  and  binnon  twam  gearum 

his  lifes  Solode  .  and  his  laenan  rices  . 

He  feoll  of  anre  stsegere  .  and  fortJy  gelseg  .  232 

Sende  ?5a  to  hsetSengilde  het  axian  be  him  . 

and  helias  gemette  Jsa  menn  tSe  he  asende  . 

cwse'S  ^  him  sona  to  .  swa  swa  him  saede  godes  engel . 

Hwaet  la  nis  se  selmihtiga  god  on  israhela  Seode  .  236 

and  ge  faratS  to  hseSengilde  eowre  hsele  to  axienne  . 

Nu  cwseS  se  selmihtiga  fortJi  .  ])cet  se  cynincg  ne  sceall  arisan 

of  tJam  bedde  pe  he  on  li?S  .  ac  sceall  beon  dead. 

pa  gewendon  'Sa  serendracan  eft  to  ?5am  cynincge  .  240 

and  cyddon  hwset  se  witega  him  be  wege  ssede  . 

pa  sende  se  cyning  sona  fiftig  manna 

to  tSam  godes  witegan  .  wolde  hine  gelangian  . 

Da  cwse'S  se  yldosta  to  6am  arwurtSan  witegan  .  244 

Gang  nu  godes  man  of  J^aere  grsedan  dune  . 

se  cynincg  gewilnatS  Ipcet  J)u  cume  him  to  . 

pa  ancZwyrde  helias  anrsedlice  and  cwse'S  . 

Gif  ic  godes  man  eom  .  forbserne  eow  godes  fyr  .  .  248 

Hwaet  J?a  mid  tSam  worde  wand  fyr  of  heofonum 

and  forbsernde  J)a  fiftig  manna  mid  ealre  heora  fare  . 

pa  asende  se  cynincg  eft  otSre  fiftig 

up  to  Ssere  dune  J)8er  helias  sset  .  252 

and  him  eallswa  getimode  swaswa  Sam  otSrum  flocce  . 

Ipcet  hi  wurdon  forbsernde  mid  brastligendum  lige  . 

heofonlices  fyres  fserlice  ealle  . 

pa  asende  se  cynincg  gyt  tSriddan  sitSe  him  to  256 

226.  hi  ham.         228.  <56zias;  -dsede.  229.  om.  forcu^a.  232.  feol; 

staegre;  fortSi.         233.  -gylde  "j  het.         234.  elias;  men.  237.  axigemie. 

238.  cyning ;  sceal.  239.  sceal.  240.  cyninge.  244.  yldesta  {alt. 

^  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  86,  back. 


XVIII.      FROM   THE   BOOK   OF   KINGS.  399 

and  his  blood  flowed  into  the  chariot, 
so  that  the  dogs  licked  it  when  they  had  come  home. 
Then  his  son  straightway  succeeded  to  his  kingdom, 
called  Ahaziah,  a  very  evil  doer.  228 

He  walked  even  as  his  infamous  father  and  his  wicked   mother 
had  set  him  the  evil  example,  and  within  two  years 
he  lost  his  life,  and  his  fleeting  kingdom. 

He  fell  off  a  staircase,  and  so  lay  sick.  232 

He  sent  to  the  idol-god,  to  enquire  of  him, 
and  Elijah  met  the  men  whom  he  sent, 

and  straightway  said  to  them  even  as  God's  angel  had  told  him, 
*  What,    then !     is   not    the   Almighty    God    in    the    nation    of 
Israel,  236 

and  ye  go  to  an  idol-god,  to  seek  youi*  healing? 
Now  therefore  saith  the  Almighty,  that  the  king  shall  not  arise 
from  the  bed  whereon  he  lieth,  but  shall  die.' 
Then  the  messengers  returned  again  to  the  king,  240 

and  showed  him  what  the  prophet  had  said  to  them  by  the  way. 
Then  the  king  straightway  sent  fifty  men 
to  the  prophet  of  God,  desiring  to  call  him. 
Then  said  the  chief  to  the  venerable  prophet,  244 

*Go  now,  man  of  God,  from  the  grassy  hill, 
the  king  desireth  thee  to  come  to  him.' 
Then  Elijah  answered  boldly,  and  said, 

'If  I  am  a  man  of  God,  let  God's  fire  consume  you.'  248 

Lo  then !   with  these  words  fire  came  down  from  Heaven, 
and  consumed  the  fifty  men  with  all  their  company. 
Then  the  king  sent  again  other  fifty 

up  to  the  hill  where  Elijah  sat;  252 

and  it  happened  to  them  also  even  as  to  the  other  flock, 
that  they  were  all  suddenly  consumed 
by  the  crackling  flame  of  the  heavenly  fire. 
Then  sent  the  king  yet  a  third  time  to  him  256 

<o^desta).  245.  man;  grenan.  246.  cyning.  247.  elias. 

248.  om.  man.  250.  forbserde  {sic) ;  om.  manna.  251.  cyning. 

252.  elias.  253.  ealswa.  256.  cyning. 


400  XVIII.     SERMO   EXCERPTVS   DE   LIBRO  BEGUM. 

fiftig  his  tSegna  .  ?Sa  feollan  ealle  on  cneowum 

biddende  jjone  witegan  mid  bifigendre  heortan  . 

pcet  h§  bi  ne  forbsernde  tSeahSe  hi  heora  aerende  abudon  . 

Bwa  swa  Sa  ojjre  tSe  him  ser  tocomon  .  260 

Da  bet  godes  engel  Tpcet  he  gdn  sceolde 

forts  mid  tSam  mannum  .  unforht  to  Sam  cynincge  . 

Elias  tSa  eode  to  j^am  adlian  cyninge  . 

and  him  sylfum  ssede  \)cet  be  sweltan  sceolde  .  264 

fortSan  Ipe  he  asende  to  |?am  sceandlican  bseSengilde  . 

to  befrinenne  his  bsele  swylce  god  nsere  on  israhel  . 

Da  gewat  se  cyning  swa  swa  se  witega  cwsetS  . 

and  his  broSor  ioram  feng  to  his  rice  .  268 

and  hit  endlyfan  gear  yfele  geheold  . 

and  his  modor  gezab^l  manfullice  leofode 

on  fulum  forligere  and  on  selcere  fracodnysse  . 

dppcet  godes  wracu  hire  wselhreownysse  geendode  .  272 

Betwux  t5ysum  wearS  se  witega  helias 

up  to  heofonum  ahafen  hdl  butan  deaSe  . 

and  lyfaS  git  on  licha^man  mid  langsumre  strangunge  . 

Heliseus  his  gingra  eode  mid  him  on  ser  .  276 

tSa  cwcetS  se  lareow  helias  to  his  leorning-cnihte  . 

Bide  me  loca  hwses  J)u  wille  serSan  Jje  ic  beo  genumen 

of  Sinre  gesihtSe  .  and  of  'Sysum  geswince  . 

pa  cwseS  eliseus  to  t5am  arwurtSan  witegan  .  280 

Ic  bidde  Jje  min  faeder  .  Ipcet  ic  beo  afylled 

mid  J)am  witegendlicum  gaste  Ipe  on  ?Se  nu  wunatS . 

pa  cwse'S  helias  to  his  leorning-cnihte  . 

Myceles  pu  bsede  .  ac  tSu  bist  swa  tSeah  tiSa  284 

gif  tSu  most  geseon  hu  ic  sijsige  heonon  . 

gif  Su  hit  ne  gesihst  sotSlice  hit  ne  biS  . 

Betwux  heora  sprgece  com  an  heofonlic  crset 

swylce  eall  fyren  mid  fleogendum  horsum  .  288 


257.  feollon.  259.  he  hi.  262.  cyninge.  266.  befrinne. 

368.  ior^m.  269.  endleofan.  270.  gesabel.  271,  fracednysse. 

273.  elias.       274.  hal  buton.       275.  leofaSgyt;  langsumere.       276.  eliseus. 

1  Leaf  87. 


XVIII.     FROM    THE   BOOK    OF    KINGS.  401 

fifty  of  his  servants ;   these  all  fell  on  their  knees, 

entreating  the  prophet  with  trembling  hearts 

that  he  would  not  consume  them,  though  they  announced   their 

errand, 
like  the  others  who  had  come  to  him  before.  260 

Then  God's  angel  bade  him  go 
forth  with  the  men,  fearlessly  to  the  king. 
Then  Elijah  went  to  the  sick  king, 

and  told  [the  king]  himself  that  he  should  die,  264 

because  he  had  sent  to  the  shameful  idol 

to  enquire  concerning  his  healing,  as  if  God  were  not  in  Israel. 
So  the  king  died  even  as  the  prophet  had  said, 
and  his  brother  Jehoram  succeeded  to  his  kingdom,  268 

and  held  it  evilly  for  eleven  years, 
and  his  mother  Jezebel  lived  wickedly 
in  foul  whoredom,  and  in  every  iniquity, 

until  God's  vengeance  ended  her  cruelty.  272 

In  the  meantime  the  prophet  Elijah 
was  borne  up  to  heaven  hale,  without  death, 
and  liveth  yet  in  the  body  with  perpetual  strength. 
His  disciple  Elisha  went  with  him  before  (his  translation);    276 
then  said  the  master  Elijah  to  his  disciple, 
'  Ask  me,  lo  !   what  thou  wilt  before  I  be  taken  up 
away  from  thy  sight,  and  from  this  toil.' 

Then  said  Elisha  to  the  venerable  prophet,  280 

*  I  pray  thee,  my  father,  that  I  may  be  filled 
with  the  prophetic  spirit  which  now  dwelleth  in  thee.' 
Then  said  Elijah  to  bis  disciple, 

'Thou  hast  asked  much,  but  thou  shalt,  nevertheless,  be  so,  284 
if  thou  canst  see  how  I  journey  hence ; 
if  thou  seest  it  not,  verily  it  shall  not  be.' 
Amidst  their  speaking  came  a  heavenly  chariot, 
as  if  all  of  fire,  with  flying  horses,  288 

277.  elias.  278.  loc.  283.  elias.  284.  Myccles.  287.  craet 

{glossed  kert),         288.  eal. 

26 


402  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCEllPTVS   DE    LIBRO    REGUM. 

and  belias  ferde  on  Sam  faegeran  crsete 

upp  geond  tSa  lyft  .  and  let  afeallan  his  basincg  . 

pa  geseali  heliseus  hu  he  sitJode  up  . 

and  cljpode  hlude  sefter  his  lareowe  ]3us  .  292 

Pater  mi  .  pater  mi  .  Currus  israhel  et  auriga  eius  . 

"pcet  is  on  englisc  ^ ;    Faeder  min  .  feeder  min  .  israheles  crset . 

and  his  wissigend  .  \>cet  is  crset-wisa  . 

He  ne  geseah  hine  siSSan  ac  genam  sona  his  basincg  296 

tJe  of  ]?am  crsete  setfeoU  .  and  ferde  ongean  . 

and  wses  godes  witega  swa  wis  swa  se  otSer  . 

and  fela  wundra  worhte  .  and  witegode  fela  Sincg  . 

He  arserde  senne  deadne  mann^  ])urh  drihtnes  mihte  .  300 

senne  on  his  life  .  and  ocSerne  sefter  his^  fort5sitSe  . 

^fter  pees  witegan  for(5-si]?e  wearS 

an  lie  gebroht  to  tSaes  halgan  byrgene  . 

and  scea'San  pa,  afligdon  fserlice  tSa  lic-menn  .  304 

pcet  hi  forleton  Jjone  deadan  uppan  his  bjTgene  . 

and  urnon  aweg  swa  hracSe  swa  hi  besawon  on  Sone  rej^an  floe  . 

pa  aras  se  deada  mid  (Sam  pe  he  hrepode  ]?a  byrgene  . 

and  eode  ham  gesund  for  heliseus  geearnungum  .  308 

Heliseus  gehselde  eac  aenne  ealdor-man 

fram  tSam  atelicum  hreoflan  .  se  hatte  nddmSn 

of  Syrian  lande  .  and  he  gelyfde  on  god 

jjurh  pcet  mycele  wundor  Se  god  on  him  geworhte  .  312 

Fela  ocSre  tacna  gefremede  god  J)urh  hine 

on  israhela  tSeode  .  on  Jsara  yfelan  timan  . 

Heliseus  tSa  asende  sumne  oSerne  wite^gau 

mid  godes  serende  to  anum  ealdor-menn  316 

liieu  gehaten  .  het  hine  halgian  to  cynincge  . 

Da  ferde  se  geonga  witega  to  ]?am  foresaedan  ealdor-menn  . 

begeat  his  heafod  mid  ele  .  swa  swa  se  aelmihtiga  h^t . 

and  ahead  him  godes  serende  an-rsedlice  and  cwaetS  .  320 

289.  elias ;  fsegran.  290.  basing.  291.  eliseus;  upp.  294.  om, 

]58et  is  on  englisc  ;  min  (twice).         295.  crEetwisa  (^Zosserf  kertare).         296.  ac 
he  genam;  basing.  298.  om.  godes.  299.  feala;  feala  ]>ing. 

300.  om.  mann.       301.  om.  2nd  his.      303.  lie;  his  (/o?' Saes).      304.  Kcmen. 

*  J)aet — englisc  above  the  line.  *  Above  the  line.  '  Leaf  87,  back. 


XVIII.    FROM   THE   BOOK    OF   KINGS.  403 

and  Elijah  departed  in  the  fair  chariot 

up  beyond  the  sky,  and  let  fall  his  mantle. 

Then  Elisha  saw  how  he  went  up, 

and  cried  aloud  after  his  master  thus:  393 

^  Pater  mi,  pater  mi,  Currus  israhel  et  auriga  elus ;' 

that    is    in    English,    '  My    father,    my    father,    the    chariot    of 

Israel, 
and  its  guider,'  that  is,  charioteer. 

He  saw  him  not  afterward,  but  straightway  took  his  mantle,  296 
which  fell  from  the  chariot,  and  went  back, 
and  was  God's  prophet,  as  wise  as  was  the  other, 
and  wrought  many  miracles,  and  prophesied  many  things. 
He  raised  a  dead  man  through  the  Lord's  might,  300 

one  during  his  life,  and  another  after  his  death ; 
After  the  prophet's  departure  hence 
a  corpse  was  brought  to  the  saint's  tomb, 

and  robbers  put  the  bearers  suddenly  to  flight,  304 

so  that  they  left  the  dead  man  upon  his  sepulchre, 
and  ran  away  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  cruel  flock. 
Then  the  dead  man  arose  when  he  touched  the  sepulchre, 
and  went  home  sound,  for  Elisha's  merits.  308 

Elisha  also  healed  a  nobleman 
from  the  dreadful  leprosy ;  he  was  called  Naaman, 
of  the  land  of  Syria,  and  he  believed  in  God 
through  the  great  miracle  which  God  wrought  in  him.  313 

Many  other  signs  God  performed  through  him 
among  the  nation  of  Israel,  in  that  evil  time. 
Elisha  then  sent  another  prophet 

with  God's  errand  to  a  prince  316 

called  Jehu,  bidding  him  hallow  him  as  king. 
So  the  young  prophet  went  to  the  aforesaid  prince, 
poured  oil  on  his  head,  even  as  the  Almighty  had  commanded, 
and  boldly  announced  to  him  God's  errand,  saying,  320 

305.  forl^ton ;  uppon.  306.  flocc.  308.  elisees.  310.  om.  t$am. 

313.  Feala;  gefremode.        315,  ]>&.        317.  hied;  cyninge.         318.  geunga; 
ealdormen.         319.  het. 

26-2 


404  XVIII.     SERMO   EXCERPTVS    DE    LIBRO   REGUM. 

God  selmihtig  cwsecS  be  pe  .  ic  6e  to  cynincge  gesmyrode  . 

ofer  israhela  folc  .  pcet  pn  call  adilegie 

achabes  ofsprincg  cSses  arleasan  cyuincges  . 

pcet  ic  beo  gewrecen  on  J^sere  awyrigendan  (sic)  gezabel  .        324 

Heo  bicS  hundum  to  mete  na  bebyrged  on  eortSan  . 

Hwset  tSa  hieu  se  ni-gehalgode  cynincg  . 

ferde  mid  fultume  to  gefremmenne  |3a  ]?incg 

Se  him  god  bebead  betwux  his  gebrocSrum  .  328 

pa  com  him  togeanes  loram  se  cyning  . 

axode  hweecSer  he  come  mid  sibbe  swa  caflice  . 

Da  andwyrde  hieu  and  cwseS  unforht  him  to  . 

Git  Sinre  modor  manfullan  forligr  .  332 

and  fela  unlybban  syndon  fortSgenge  . 

pa  gewende  ioram  awseg  sona  .  and  cwaetS  . 

Dis  synd  syrwunga  .  and  hieu  hine  scet 

bseftan  his  baece  .  pcet  him  to-bserst  seo  heorte  .  336 

Het  hine  Sa  wurpan  of  |3am  wege  swa  deadne  . 

pa  fleah  iudea  cyning  pe  com  mid  tSam  oj^rum  . 

ac  hieu  hine  offerde  and  him  his  feorh  benam  . 

wende  ]?a  to  gezabel  pe  wses  on  j^sere  byrig  .  340 

and  stod  uppon  anre  upflora  senlice  geglencged  . 

and  gehiwode  hire  eagan  and  hire  neb  mid  rude 

togeanes  hieu  .  and  beheold  his  to-cyme  . 

pa  beseah  hieu  to  peeve  sceande  up  .  344 

and  het  hi  asceofon  [sic)  sona  under-baec  . 

Heo  wear's  Sa  afylled  setforan  Sam  horsum  . 

and  pa  hors  hi  oftraedan  huxlice  under  fotum 

Hieu  pa  code  to  his  gereorde  sittan  .  348 

and  sefter  his  Senunge  cwseS  to  his  ]?egnum  . 

GaS  to  J53ere  hsetse  (vel  sceande)  pe  ic  het  nijjer  asceofan  . 

and  bebyriaS  hire  lie  for  hire  gebyrdum  . 

Hi  eoden  ardlice  to  ac  heo  wses  call  freten  352 

butan  Jjam  handum  anum  .  and  }?am  heafde  ufweardum  . 

321.  cyninge.  322.  eal  adilegige.  323.  ofspring  ;  cyninges. 

324.  awyrigedan.  326.  nighalgoda  cyning.  327.  Sing.  330.  hwser 

{glossed  \trum).         331.  hieu.  unforht  him  ^  cwsrS.         332.  manfulla  forliger. 
333.  feala.  334.  aweg.  335.  hieu  him  sceat  to.  337.  worpan. 


XVIII,     FROM   THE    BOOK    OF   KINGS.  405 

'God  Almighty  hath  said  concerning  thee,"  I  have  anointed  thee  king 

over  the  jieople  of  Israel,  that  thou  mayest  exterminate 

the  offspring  of  Ahab  the  wicked  king, 

that  I  may  be  avenged  on  the  accui'sed  Jezebel ;  324 

she  shall  be  for  meat  to  dogs,  not  buried  in  the  earth.'" 

Then  Jehu,  the  newly  hallowed  king, 

went  with  his  forces,  to  accomplish  those  things 

which  God  had  commanded  him,  amongst  his  brethren.  328 

Then  came  against  him  king  Joram, 

asked  whether  he  came,  thus  boldly,  in  peace  1 

Then  answered  Jehu  and  said  to  him  fearlessly, 

'  Yet  thy  mother's  wicked  whoredoms  333 

and  many  witchcrafts  are  going  on.' 

Then  Joram  turned  instantly  away  and  said, 

'  This  is  treachery ; '  and  Jehu  shot  him 

behind  his  back,  so  that  his  heart  burst.  336 

Then  he  bade  him  be  cast  out  of  the  way  thus  dead. 

Then  fled  the  king  of  Judah  who  came  with  the  other, 

but  Jehu  pursued  him,  and  took  his  life  from  him ; 

then  went  he  to  Jezebel,  who  was  in  the  city  340 

and  stood  upon  an  upper  floor  magnificently  adorned, 

and  had  painted  her  eyes  and  her  face  with  red, 

to  meet  Jehu,  and  beheld  his  approach. 

Then  Jehu  looked  up  to  the  shameful  one,  344 

and  immediately  commanded  men  to  push  her  over  from  behind ; 

so  she  was  thrown  down  before  the  horses, 

and  the  horses  trod  her  igaominiously  under  their  feet. 

Then  Jehu  went  to  sit  at  his  banquet,  348 

and  after  his  feast  said  to  his  servants, 

*  Go  to  this  witch  whom  I  bade  men  throw  down, 

and  bury  her  corpse,  for  her  birth's  sake.' 

They  went  quickly,  but  she  was  all  devoured,  352 

save  only  the  hands  and  the  upper  part  of  the  head, 

340.  gezab^l.  341.  stod;  geglenged.  342.  hiwode ;  nebb.  344.  upp, 
347.  oftraedon.  350.  Jun.  om.  vel  vsceande ;  het;  ascufan.  351.  bebyrgaS  ; 
o»i.  for  hire  gebyrdum.         352.  eodon  ;  td.         353.  buton;  uleweardan. 


406  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCERPTVS    DE    LIBRO    REGUAT. 

and  |?am  fot-wylmum  ]?urli  fule  bundas . 

pa  cyddon  (5a  cnihtas  para  cynincge  pcet  . 

and  he  cwae'S  to  andsware  .  pcet  hit  wses  ser  swa  gewitegod  .  356 

pa  waeran  of  samarian  ^  hund-seofontig  acSelinga 

achabes  suna  Jjses  ealdan  cynincges 

iorames  gebrocSra  .  pa  bet  se  bealda  hieu 

Sa  ceastergewaran  .  ])cet  hi  of  tSam  hund-seofontigum  360 

senne  se'Seling  gecuron  him  to  cynincge  . 

and  fuhton  him  togeanes  for  beora  hlafordum  . 

pa  sende  seo  burb-waru  to  t?am  breman  hieu  . 

budon  bim  manrsedene  to  eallum  his  bebodum  .  364 

pa  bet  hieu  bim  to  gebringan 

fjsera  seSelinga  heafdu  ealle  ]?8es  on  mergen  . 

and  he  acwealde  siSSan  selc  j^incg  cSses  cynnes  . 

Gewende  'Sd  to  samarian  Jjsere  fore-ssedan  byrig  .  368 

and  bet  bim  to  gelangian  j^a  leasan  deofolgildan  . 

]>e  bddl  wurcSodon  wolde  hine  gesprsecan  . 

Het  tSa  gedreoblsecan  fjses  deofles  tempi  . 

ssede  ])cet  be  wolde  bine  wur'Sian  for  god  .  373 

swa  swa  achdb  dyde  and  eac  git  swytSor  . 

pa  com  on  Ipa  sacerdas  to  pava.  cynincge  ealle  . 

and  he  h^t  hi  ingan  to  'Sam  gode  bd^l . 

and  him  geoffrian  pa,  estfullan  onseegednyssa  .  376 

Hwset  ?5a  hieu  het  hi  ealle  ofslean  . 

and  forbsernan  J)one  b441  and  to-brsecan  bis  tempi  . 

"Worbton  pa  anne  gangtun  .  Jjser  cSaer  se  god  bddl 

ser  wses  gewurtSod  wolice  o'Spcet  .  380 

pa  com  godes  word  to  (Sam  cynincge  }7us  . 

For^an  pe  )5U  geworbtest  minne  willan  geornlice 

on  achabes  ofeprincge  .  and  hi  ealle  adilogodest  . 

]3ine  suna  gesitta'5  pest  cyne-setl  on  israbel  384 

otJ  (5a  feor|3an  maegSe  .  mid  fgederlicre  sefter-gengnysse  . 

355.  cyninge.  356.  om.  to  ;  swa  ser.  357.  Da  wseron  on  samsCrian. 

358.  cyninges,  361.  cyninge.  363.  asende  ;  ieu.  366.  merigen. 

.367.  ^ing.  370.  hi  gesprecan.  371.  tempel.  373.  achab. 

'  r  '  Leaf88. 


XVIII.     FROM    THE    BOOK    OF   KINGS.  407 

and  the  soles  of  her  feet,  by  foul  clogs. 
Then  the  servants  told  that  to  the  king, 

and  he  said  in  answer,  that  it  had  been  so  prophesied  before- 
hand, 356 
There  were  in  Samaria  seventy  princes, 
sons  of  Ahab,  the  old  king, 

Joram's  brethren.     Then  the  bold  Jehu  commanded 
the  citizens  that  they  should  choose  a  prince  360 

from  among  those  seventy,  to  be  their  king, 
and  fight  against  him  in  defence  of  their  lords. 
Then  the  citizens  sent  to  the  renowned  Jehu, 
promising  him  obedience  to  all  his  commands.  364 

Then  Jehu  ordered  them  to  bring 
all  the  heads  of  the  princes  on  the  morrow, 
and  he  destroyed  afterward  every  one  of  the  race. 
Then  he  returned  to  Samaria,  the  aforesaid  city,  368 

and  bade  men  call  to  him  the  false  idolaters, 
who  worshipped  Baal,  desiring  [them]  to  speak  with  him. 
Then  he  bade  [call]  the  ministers  of  the  devil's  temple, 
saying  that  he  wished  to  worship  him  as  God,  373 

even  as  Ahab  did,  and  even  yet  more. 
Then  all  the  priests  came  to  the  king, 
and  he  bade  them  enter  in  unto  the  god  Baal, 
and  offer  to  him  their  devout  sacrifices.  376 

Lo  then  !  Jehu  commanded  men  to  slay  them  all, 
and  burn  up  Baal,  and  break  down  his  temple. 
They  turned  it  into  a  di*aught-house,  where  the  god  Baal 
before  was  wickedly  worshipped  until  that  time.  380 

Then  came  God's  word  to  the  king  thus, 
'  Because  thou  hast  zealously  executed  my  will 
on  Ahab's  offspring,  and  hast  destroyed  them  all, 
thy  sons  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  Israel  384 

until  the  fourth  generation,  in  lineal  succession.' 

374.  cyninge.  376.  estfullum.  377.  hfeti.  378.  tobrecan. 

379.  om.anne;  gangtiin  (grZossed  cloacam).       381.  cyninge.      383.  ofspringe  ; 
hi ;  adylegodest.  385.  faederlicere. 


408  XVIII.     SEKMO    EXCEEPTVS    DE    LIBllO   llEGUM. 

Manega  cynegas  wseron  myslice  geworhte 

sefter  jjysum  rixiende  on  israhela  rice  . 

and  eac  on  iudea  lande  .  d^pcet  se  geleaffulla  cynincg  388 

ezechias  gehaten  mid  ealre  heortan  gebeali 

to  'Sam  selmihtigan  gode  .  and  his  biggengas  arserde  . 

and  towearp  J^a  deofolgild  j^e  dwollice  oj?  pcet 

wserou  gewurcSode  mid  wolicum  biggencgum  .  392 

He  rixode  on  iudea  lande  an  leas  Sryttig  geara  . 

and  wislice  leofode  forcSan  pe  he  lufode  god  . 

and  god  hine  gescylde  wiS  Syrian  cyning  . 

Sennacherib  gehaten  pe  mid  hole  him  on  wan  ,  396 

and  mid  ormaetre  fyrdincge  hine  afyllan  wolde  . 

and  asende  his  heretogan  to  .  'Se  huxlice  sprsec  be  gode 

and  be  ezechian  mid  ^mycclum  gebeote  . 

Hwget  Sa  ezechias  anmodlice  clypode  400 

to  Sam  selmihtigan  gode  .  pcet  he  hine  ahredde  . 

Da  asende  god  his  engel  to  J^am  syriscan  here  . 

and  ofsloh  on  anre  nihte  an  hund  fiusend  manna  . 

and  hund-eahtatig  Susend  and  sumne  eacan  'Sserto  .  404 

pa  geseah  Sennacherib  sona  Sses  on  mergen  . 

pcet  his  here  waes  ofslagen  mid  heofonlicum  swurde  . 

Wende  }5a  sona  hdm  .  and  his  twsegen  suna 

hine  ofslogon  mid  swurdes  ecge  .  408 

Swa  ahredde  se   selmihtiga  god  ]?one  ae]?elan  cynincg  . 

and  eac  his  leode  for  his  geleafan  . 

^fter  Sysum  wearS  geuntrumod  ezechias  [oS]  deaS. 

and  him  com  gangende  to  godes  witega  isaias  .  412 

ahead  him  godes  serende  fjus  bealdlice  and  cwse'S  . 

God  cwoeS  be  Se  cynincg  .  pcet  ]?u  becweSe  J)ine  Sincg  . 

forSan  j^e  Su  sweltan  scealt  .  and  J3U  soSlice  ne  leofast  . 

pa  awende  ezechias  to  wage  his  ansyne  .  416 

and  clypode  to  gode  Jjus  cweSende  mid  wope  . 

Ic  bidde  pe  min  drihten  poet  }?u  beo  gemyndig 

386.  cyniugas.        387,  rixigende;  rfce.        388.  cyning.       392    biggenguwi. 
393.  laes.  396.  hole ;  wann.  397.  ormsettre  fyrdinge.  398.  om.  to. 

405.  merigen.  406.  ofslegen.  407.  Gewende ;  twegen. 

1  Leaf  88,  back. 


XVIII.     FKOM    THE    BOOK    OF    KINGS.  409 

Many  kings  were  there,  diversely  disposed, 
reigning  after  this  one  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel, 
and  also  in  the  land  of  Judah,  until  the  believing  king,         388 
called  Hezekiah,  turned  with  Iiis  whole  heart 
to  the  Almighty  God,  and  raised  up  his  worship, 
and  overthrew  the  idols  which  until  then  had  been 
erroneously  venerated  with  wicked  worship.  392 

He  reigned  in  the  land  of  Judah  thirty  years  save  one, 
and  lived  wisely,  because  he  loved  God ; 
and  God  shielded  him  against  the  Assyrian  king, 
called  Sennacherib,  who  with  slander  fought  against  him,       396 
and  desired  to  destroy  him  with  an  immense  army, 
and  sent  his  leader  to  him,  who  spoke  shamefully  concerning  God, 
and  concerning  Hezekiah,  with  great  threatening. 
So  then  Hezekiah  cried  with  single  mind  400 

to  the  Almighty  God,  that  He  would  deliver  him. 
Then  God  sent  His  angel  to  the  Assyrian  host, 
and   slew  in  one  night  one  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand  men,  and  some  more  besides.  404 

As  soon  as  Sennacherib  saw  in  the  morning 
that  his  host  was  slain  by  the  heavenly  sword, 
he  straightway  went  home,  and   his   two  sons 
slew  him  with  the  edge   of  the  sword.  408 

Thus  the  Almighty  God  delivered  the  noble  king 
and  also  his  people,   for  his  faith. 
After  this  Hezekiah  fell  sick  unto  death, 

and  God's  prophet  Isaiah  came  walking  to  him,  412 

and  announced  to  him  God's  errand  thus  boldly,  and  said, 
*God  saith  concerning  thee,  0   king,  that  thou   must   bequeath 

thy  property, 
because  thou  shalt  die,  and  thou  verily  shalt  not  live.' 
Then  Hezekiah  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,  416 

and  cried  to  God  thus  saying,  with  weeping, 
'  I  beseech  Thee,  my  Lord,  that  thou  be  mindful 

409.  ahredde  ;  om.  god;  cyning.  411.  MS.  JvL.  of  (wrongly)  ;  JuN.  oS 

(correctly).  414.  cyning;  J)ing  416.  wende. 


410  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCERPTVS    DE    LIBRO    EEGUM. 

liu  ic  setforan  'Se  ferde  on  fulfremedre  heortan  . 

and  on  soc5f8estnysse  Jje  symle  gecwemde  .  420 

Isaias  se  witega  wees  avvseg  farande  . 

ac  god  hine  gecyrde  Ipus  him  eft  secgende  . 

Gecyr  to  ezechian  and  sege  him  ?Sas  word  . 

Drihten  god  gecwee'S  pe  dauid  on  ge-lyfde  .  424 

ic  gehyrde  J?in  gebed  .  and  ic  beheold  ]?inne  wop  . 

and  efne  ic  tSe  gehsele  pcet  pn  hdl  gsest 

nu  embe  ]?ry  dagas  to  J^ines  drihtnes  temple  . 

and  ic  fiftyne  gear  pe  to  fyrste  Isete  438 

tSinum  dagum  to  eacan  .  and  ic  eac  ]3as  burh  gescylde  . 

pa  hat  se  witega  isaias  wyrcan  senne  cly]7an 

to  J?8es  cynincges  dolge  .  and  him  com  tSa  heelu  . 

He  leofode  pa,  si'5(5an  ocS  pest  sixteocSe  gear  .  433 

and  mid  ealre  godnysse  gode  ^  gecwemde  . 

Mannases  wses  gecyged  ezechias  sunu  . 

and  se  feng  to  rice  aefter  his  feeder  geendunge  . 

and  mid  manegum  yfelum  deedum  |5one  selmihtigan  god'        436 

ge^gremode  . 
Jja  asende  him  god  to  swytSlice  steore  . 
swa  pcet  him  comon  to  tSa  chaldeiscan  leoda 
*and  hine  gebundenne  geleddon  to  babiloniscre  byrig  . 
and  on  cwearterne  bescufon  to  sceame  his  kyne-scipe  .  440 

pa  behreowsode  mannases  mycclum  his  synna  . 
and  mid  eallre  heortan  to  J?am  eelmihtigan  clypode  • 
biddende  miltsunge  ealra  his  man-deeda  . 

and  behet  geswicennysse  and  hit  eac  swa  gelseste  .  444 

Hwset  'Sa  se  eelmihtiga  god  ]?as  earman  cynincges 
bene  gehyrde  .  and  gebrohte  hine 
eft  to  his  cyne-rice  of  Sam  retSan  cwearterne  . 
and  he  ge-bette  syStSan  poet  'Sset  he  ser  tobreec  .  448 

He  oncneow  f)a  godes  mihte  and  his  mildheortnysse  on  him 
and  awende  his  daeda  to  his  drihtnes  willan  . 

421.  farende.         425,  wop.        426,  geheelde  ;  hal.       430.  wjTcean ;  cliSan. 
431.  cyninges.  433.  ealra.  434.  Manases;  ezechian.  435.  rice. 

•  Above  the  line.  °  Leaf  89. 


XVIII.    FROM   THE   BOOK   OP   KINGS.  411 

how  I  have  walked  before  thee  with  a  perfect  heart, 

and  in  integrity  have  ever  pleased  Thee.'  430 

Isaiah  the  prophet  was  going  away, 

but  God  caused  him  to  return,  thus  saying  to  him  again, 

'  Return  to  Hezekiah,  and  say  to  him  these  words, 

The  Lord  God  hath  said,  in  whom  David  believed,  424 

I  have  heard  thy  prayer,  and  I  have  beheld  thy  weeping, 

and  behold,  I  will  heal  thee  that  thou  mayest  go  whole 

now  within  about  three  days,  to  thy  Lord's  temple; 

and  I  will  allow  thee  a  space  of  fifteen  years  428 

in  addition  to  thy  days,  and  I  will  also  protect  this  city  !' 

Then  the  prophet  Isaiah  bade  make  a  plaster 

for  the  king's  wound,  and  health  came  to  him. 

Then  he  lived  afterward  until  the  sixteenth  year,  43a 

and  with  all  goodness  pleased  God. 

Hezekiah's  son  was  called  Manasses, 
and  he  succeeded  to  the  kingdom  after  his  father's  death, 
and  with  many  evil  deeds  provoked  the  Almighty  God.  436 

Then  God  sent  him  a  severe  chastisement, 
so  that  the  Chaldean  people  came  to  him, 
and  brought  him  bound  to  the  city  of  Babylon, 
and  thrust  him  into  prison,  as  a  shame  to  his  kingship.         440 
Then  Manasses  greatly  repented  of  his  sins, 
and  with  all  his  heart  cried  to  the  Almighty, 
imploring  mercy  for  all  his  wicked  deeds, 

and  promised  amendment,  and  he  also  performed  it.  444 

Lo  then  !  the  Almighty  God  heard  the  prayer 
of  the  poor  king,  and  brought  him 
again  to  his  kingdom,  out  of  the  cruel  prison, 
and  he   afterward  restored  that  which  he  had  before  broken  in 
pieces.  448 

He  then  acknowledged  God's  might,  and  his  mercy  towards  him, 
and  turned  his  deeds  to  his  Lord's  will, 

436.  om.  god  ;  gegremode.       437.  sende.       439.  Iseddon.       440.  cweartem  ; 
cynescips.         441.  manases.         442.  ealre.         445.  cyninges.         448.  aer. 


413  XVIII.     SERMO    EXCERPTVS    DE    LIBRO    REGUM. 

and  wel  ge-endode  j^eah  "Se  he  yfele  ongunne  . 

His  sunu  amon  swytSe  ungesaelig  452 

feng  to  his  rice  .  and  hit  unrihtlice  heold 

swa  pcet  he  forlet  |?one  almihtigan  god  . 

and  deofolgild  beeode  and  dsed-bote  ne  ^  geworhte  . 

Twa  gear  he  rixode  unraedfsestlice  .  456 

Da  gewearS  his  J^egnum  "pcet  hi  hine  acwealdon 

and  losias  his  sunu  sona  feng  to  rice  . 

on  iunglicre  ylde  and  ge-efenlaehte  dauide 

on  ealre  godnysse  .  and  godes  wyllan  gefremode  .  460 

He  awearp  yfelnysse  and  t5a  unrihtan  biggengas 

cSsera  leasra  goda  pe  his  fseder  on  gelyfde  . 

and  geedniwode  godes  se  .  mid  eallum  biggencgum  . 

and  wiccan  fordyde  .  and  wigleras  afligde  .  464 

and  drycrseft  towearp  his  drihtne  to  gecwemednysse  . 

Naes  so'Slice  nan  cynincg  pe  gecyrde  swa  geornlice 

mid  ealre  heortan  to  tSam  selmihtigan  gode 

beforan  iosian  .  ne  eac  siSSan  ne  com  468 

nan  his  gelica  t5e  swa  gelyfde  on  god  . 

An  and  j^ryttig  geara  ,  he  rixode  Jjrymlice  on  hierusalem  . 

and  rayldheortnysse  weorc  be  moyses  .  se  . 

symle  beeode  .  swa  swa  us  secgatS  gewrytu  .  472 

Ne  mage  we  awritan  tSa  mjenig-fealdan  gerecednyssa 

ealra  iudeiscra  cyninga  on  tSisum  lytlan  cwyde  . 

ocSSe  israhela  (5eode  hu  hi  ealle  leofodon  . 

ac  we  cwe'Sa'S  to  soSum  se  pe  synnum  gehyrsumatS  .  476 

and  godes  beboda  forsyhS  nu  on  Jjses  godspelles  timan  , 

pcet  he  bicS  j^am  cynincgum  ^  gelic  c5e  gecuron  deofolgild  . 

and  heora  scyppend  forsawon  .  Se  tSe  soJ)lice  is 

ana  god  selraihtig  .  sefre  rixigende  .  480 

pam  sy  wulder  on  ealra  worulda  woruld.     Amen. 

453.  geheold.  454.  forlet ;  lyfigendan  (for  selmihtigan). 

459.  iunglicere.  460.  gddnysse.  461.  wearp  yfelnyssa. 

*  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  89,  back. 


XVIII.     FROM   THE   BOOK   OF   KINGS.  413 

and  ended  well,  although  he  had  begun  evilly. 

His  son  Ammon  very  unhappily  453 

succeeded  to  his  kingdom,  and  I'uled  it  unjustly, 
so  that  he  forsook  the  Almighty  God, 

and  practised  idolati-y,  and  wrought  not  deeds  of  repentance. 
Two  years  he  reigned  without  prudence ;  456 

then  his  thanes  agreed  that  they  would  kill  him, 
and  Josiah  his  son  straightway  succeeded  to  the  kingdom 
in  youthful  age,  and  imitated  David 

in  all  goodness,  and  performed  God's  will.  460 

He  cast  away  evil,  and  the  wrong  (false)  worships 
of  the  false  gods  in  which  his  father  had  believed, 
and  renewed  God's  law  with  all  observances, 
and  destroyed  the  witches,  and  put  the  wizards  to  flight,        464 
and  cast  down  witchcraft,  to  please  his  Lord. 
There  was  indeed  no  king  who  turned  so  zealously 
with  his  whole  heart  to  the  Almighty  God 

before  Josiah,  neither  afterward  came  there  468 

any  like  to  him,  who  so  believed  on  God. 
One  and  thirty  years  he  reigned  gloriously  in  Jerusalem, 
and  works  of  mercy  according  to  the  law  of  Moses 
he  ever  practised,  even  as  the  scriptures  tell  us.  472 

"We  cannot  write  the  manifold  histories 
of  all  the  Jewish  kings  in  this  little  treatise, 
or  how  the  people  of  Israel  all  lived; 

but  we  say  in  truth,  that  he  who  obeyeth  sins  476 

and  despiseth  God's  commands,  now  in  the  gospel's  age, 
is  like  the  kings  who  chose  idolatry, 
and  despised  their  Creator;  Who  is  verily 

One  God  Almighty,  ever  reigning  ;  480 

to  Whom  be  glory  to  all  ages  of  ages.     Amen. 

463.  1  mid  {for  mid).         466.  cynintj.        473.  gerecednysse.        474.  cynega. 
476.  sofan.        478.  cynegujTi.        480.  god  ana.        481.  sy  a  wuldor. 


414  XIX.     PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYRIS. 

XIX. 

PASSIO    SANCn   ALBANI   MARTYRIS. 

[Collated  with  U.  =  MS.  Cambridge  University  Library,  li.  i.  33,  p.  289.] 
QVM    H^DEN    CASEBE   W^S   GE-HATEN    DIOCLITIANVS 

^  se  wses  to  casere  gecoren  j^eahcSe  he  cwealm-bsere  wsere  . 

sefter  cristes  acennednysse  twam  hund  gearum  . 

and  syx  and  hund-eahtatigum  ofer  ealne  middan-eard  .  4 

and  he  rixode  twentig  geara  reSe  cwellere  . 

swa  \}xt  he  acwealde  and  acwellan  h6t 

ealle  Sa  cristenan  pe  he  of-axian  mihte  . 

and  forbsernde  cyrcan  .  and  berypte  'Sa  unscsetScSigan  .  8 

and  jjeos  arleasa  ehtnyss  unablinnendlice  eode 

ofer  ealne  middan-eard  ealles  tyngear. 

6(Spcet  heo  to  engla  lande  eac  svvylce  becom  . 

and  Jjser  fela  acwealde  Sa  pe  on  criste  gelyfdon  .  12 

an  tSsera  wses  albanus  se  sejjela  martyr  . 

setSe  on  j^aere  ehtnysse  eac  wearS  acweald 

for  cristes  geleafan  .  swa  swa  we  cytSa]?  h6r  . 

On  jpam  dagum  becom  seo  cweahnbsere  ehtnyss  16 

to  engla  lande  fram  Sam  arleasan  casere  . 

and  pa  cwelleras  cepton  tSsera  cristenra  gehwaer 

mid  ormetre  wodnysse  .  pa  setwand  him  an  preost. 

Se  am  digollice  to  albanus  huse  .  20 

and  tSser  setlutode  his  laSum  ehterum  . 

and  albanus  hine  under-feng  JjeahSe  he  gefullod  nsere  . 

pa  be-gan  se  preost  swa  swa  he  god  lufode 

his  gebedu  singan  and  swySe  fgestan  .  24 

and  daeges  and  nihtes  his  drihten  herian  . 

and  betwux  tSam  secgan  t  one  soSan  geleafan 

Jsam  arwurj^an  albane  .  o]?]3oe<  he  gelyfde 

Title.    U.  inserts  X.  Kalendas  4.  vj.  htind-eahtatigum. 

lULll  before  PASSIO.  6.  het. 

1.  U.  dioclicianMS.  8.  he  rypte  J)a  unscyldigan, 

2.  wxre.  9.  arlease  ehtnyj. 

3.  hundred.  10.  t)in  gear. 


XIX.     PASSION    OF    ST.  ALBAN,    MARTYR.  415 

XIX. 

JUNE  22.     PASSION  OF  ST.  ALBAN,  MARTYR. 

Theee  was  a  heathen  emperor  named  Diocletian, 

who  was  chosen  to  be  emperor  over  all  the  earth, 

though  he  was  a  destroyer  of  men,  two  hundred 

and  eighty-six  years  after  Christ's  incarnation;  4 

and  he  reigned  twenty  years,  a  cruel  murderer, 

so  that  he  killed,  and  bade  kill, 

all  the  Christians  whom  he  could  find  out, 

and  burned  churches,  and  robbed  the  innocent ;  8 

and  this  impious  persecution  spread  unceasingly 

over  all  the  earth  fully  ten  years, 

until  it  came  also  even  to  England, 

and  there  killed  many  who  believed  in  Christ.  13 

One  of  these  was  Albaii,  the  noble  martyr, 

who  was  likewise  killed  in  that  persecution 

for  Christ's  faith,  even  as  we  shall  tell  [you]  here. 

In  those  days  came  the  murderous  persecution  16 

to  England  from  the  wicked  emperor, 

and  the  murderers  seized  the  Christians  everywhere 

with  exceeding  fury ;  then  a  priest  escaped  from  them 

who  ran  secretly  to  Alban's  house,  20 

and  there  lay  hid  from  his  fierce  persecutors, 

and  Alban  received  him,  though  he  was  not  baptized. 

Then  began  the  priest,  forasmuch  as  he  loved  God, 

to  sing  his  offices,  and  fast  strictly,  24 

and  day  and  night  to  praise  his  Lord, 

and  meanwhile  to  teach  the  true  faith 

to  the  honourable  Alban,  until  he  believed 

11.  land.  20.  digellice. 

12.  crist.  2i.  set-lutude. 

13.  J)aere.     8e])ele  martir.  22.  h^. 
19.  unmsetre  {fw  ormetre). 


416  XIX.     PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYTHS. 

on  tSone  soSan  god  .  and  wi'Ssoc  J^am  hae'Sen-scype  .  28 

and  weartS  soj^lice  cristen  .  and  swySe  geleaffull. 

pa  wunode  se  preost  mid  (Sam  arwurtSan  were  . 

olSpcet  se  ealdor-mann  ?Se  ehte  tSa  cristenan 

hine  tSser  geaxode  .  and  hine  ardlice  het  32 

to  him  gefeccan  mid  fullum  graman  . 

pa  comon  t5a  serendracan  to  albanes  huse  . 

ac  albanus  eode  ut  to  J)am  ehterum 

mid  tSses  preostes  ha^kelan  swylce  he  hit  wsere  .  36 

and  hine  nolde  ameldian  tSam  manfullum  ehterum. 

He  weartS  Ipa,  gebunden  and  ge-broht  sona 

to  Sam  arleasan  deman  .  ]?8er  he  tSa  defollican  Kc 

his  godum  offrode  mid  his  gegadum  eallum.  40 

pa  wear's  se  dema  deofollice  gram 

sona  swa  he  beseah  on  ]?one  soSfsestan  martyr  , 

forSan  pe  he  under-feng  Sone  fleondan  preost  . 

and  hine  sylfne  sealde  to  siege  for  hine  .  44 

het  hine  J?a  Isedan  to  Sam  hseSen-gllde  and  cwoej)  . 

pcet  he  sylf  sceolde  Sa  swaran  wita  onfon 

J?e  he  Jjam  preoste  gemynte  gif  he  mihte  hine  gefon  . 

butan  he  hraSe  gebuge  to  his  bysmorfullum  godum  .  48 

ac  albanus  naes  afyrht  for  his  feondlicum  ]?eow-racan  . 

forSan  ]?e  he  wees  ymb-gyrd  mid  godes  wsepnum 

to  J?am  gastlicum  gecampe  .  and  cwobS  poet  he  nolde 

his  hsesum  gehyrsumian  .  ne  to  his  hseSengilde  bugan  .  52 

pa  axode  se  dema  ardlice  and  cwseS  . 

Hwylcere  msegSe  eart  Tpn  .  oSSe  hwylcere  manna  . 

Da  andwyrde  albanus  J?am  arleasan  Jjus  . 

Hwset  belympS  to  Ipe  hwylcere  maegSe  ic  sy  .  56 

ac  gif  Su  soS  wylt  gehyran  ic  Jse  secge  hraSe  . 

pcet  ic  cristen  eom  and  crist  sefre  wurSige  . 

31.  ealdorman.  39.  deofllcan  lac, 

32.  ]>er.  41.  deoflice. 

35.  Albanes.  42.  U.  om.  swa. 

36.  hacelan.  43.  h^. 

37.  nolde  hine.  45.  haetSenan  gylde. 

'  Leaf  90. 


XIX.    PASSION   OP   ST.  ALBAN,   MARTYR.  417 

in  the  true  God,  and  renounced  heathenism,  28 

and  became  verily  a  Christian,  and  exceeding  full  of  faith. 

Then  the  priest  dwelt  with  the  honourable  man 

until  the  magistrate  who  persecuted  the  Christians 

discovered  him  there,  and  with  great  wrath  32 

commanded  him  to  be  fetched  before  him  speedily. 

Then  came  the  messengers  to  Alban's  house, 

but  Alban  went  out  unto  the  persecutors 

with  the  priest's  cloak,  as  if  he  were  Ae,  36 

and  would  not  betray  him  to  the  wicked  persecutors. 

He  was  thereupon  bound,  and  brought  straightway 

to  the  impious  judge,  where  he  was  offering  to  his  gods 

the  devilish  sacrifices,  with  all  his  associates.  40 

Then  became  the  judge  fi.endishly  angry, 

as  soon  as  he  beheld  the  steadfast  martyr, 

because  he  had  received  the  fugitive  priest, 

and  given  himself  up  to  be  slain  for  him.  44 

Then  he  bade  men  lead  him  to  the  heathen  sacrifice,  and  said 

that  he  himself  should  receive  the  heavy  punishment 

which   he  had   meant   for   the   priest   if  he    could   have    taken 

him, 
unless  he  quickly  submitted  to  his  shameful  gods ;  48 

but  Alban  was  not  affrighted  by  his  fiendly  threats, 
because  he  was  girded  about  with  God's  weapons 
unto  the  ghostly  fight,  and  said  that  he  would  not 
obey  his  hest,  nor  bow  to  his  idolatry.  52 

Then  asked  the  judge  immediately,  and  said, 
'  Of  what  family  art  thou,  or  of  what  rank  among  men  V 
Then  Alban  answered  the  wicked  man  thus : 
'  "What  concerneth  it  thee,  of  what  family  I  may  be  ?  56 

but  if  thou  desire  to  hear  the  truth,  I  tell  thee  quickly 
that  I  am  a  Christian,  and  will  ever  worship  Christ.* 

46.  ])^  swaeran  wfta.  51.  gastUcan. 

47.  h^.    U.  ins.  on  be/.  Jam.  h^,  55.  andwyrd. 

48.  hd.     gode.  56.  belimpjj. 

49.  feindUcan  J)eowracum.  57.  wylt. 

50.  h^. 

27 


418  XIX.    PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYRIS. 

Se  dema  him  cwaetS  to  .  CytS  me  j^inne  naman 

butan  selcere  ylclinge  .  nu  ic  axie  'Sus  .  60 

Se  godes  cempa  cwce'S  to  ]7am  cwellere  ]3us  . 

Ic  hatte  albanus  .  and  ic  on  Ipone  haelend  gelyfe  . 

se  t5e  is  soS  god  .  and  ealle  gesceafta  geworhte  . 

to  him  ic  me  gebidde  and  hine  sefre  wurSige  .  64 

Se  cwellere  andwyrde  J)am  arfaestan  were  . 

Gif  tSu  pxa  ecan  lifes  gesaeljje  habban  wylt  . 

Jjonne  ne  scealt  Su  elcian  pcet  ?5u  ofFrige 

Jjam  maerum  godum  .  mid  mycelre  under'Seodnysse  .  68 

Albanus  him  awc^wyrde  .  Eowre  godas  [sic)  offrunga  ne  magon 

J?e  ge  deoflum  ofFriaS  eower  gehelpan  . 

ne  eowerne  willan  gefremman  .  ac  ge  underfotS  to  medes 

?Sa  ecan  wita  on  tSsere  widgillan  belle  .  72 

Hwset  Sa  se  dema  deofoUice  yrsode  . 

and  bet  beswingan  J)one  balgan  martyr  . 

wende  pcet  he  mihte  bis  modes  anrsednysse 

mid  Jiam  swingelum  ^  gebigan  to  his  biggengum  .  76 

ac  se  eadiga  wer  weartS  Jjurb  god  gestrangod  . 

and  tSa  swingle  forbeer  swycSe  ge}?yldiglice  . 

and  mid  glaedum  mode  gode  tSses  j^ancode  . 

Da  geseah  se  dema  \)cet  he  oferswycSan  ne  mihte  80 

f)one  balgan  wer  mid  f)am  hetelicum  witum 

ne  fram  criste  gebigan  .  and  bet  bine  acwellan 

mid  beheafdunge  for  Sses  haelendes  naman  . 

pa  dydon  pa  hsetSenan  swa  swa  hi  bet  se  dema  .  84 

and  leddon  f  one  balgan  to  bebeafdigenne  . 

ac  hi  wurdon  gelette  lange  set  anre  brycge  . 

and  stodon  otS  sefnunge  for  tSam  ormgetan  folce  . 

wsera  and  wifa  .  pe  wurdon  onbryrde  .  88 


60.  U.  omits  this  line.  69.  Eowere ;  om.  godas. 

61.  TJ.  om.  to  .  .  .  J)us.  71.  gefremian.    mede. 

62.  gelyfse.  72.  witu. 

64.  gebiddan.  73.  deoflice. 

65.  cwellerje.  76.  swinglum. 

66.  gesselSa. 

*  Leaf  90,  back. 


XIX.     PASSION   OF   ST.  ALBAN,    MARTYR.  419 

The  judge  said  to  him :    '  Tell  me  thy  name, 

without  any  delay,  now  that  I  thus  ask.'  60 

The  champion  of  God  said  to  the  murderer  thus, 

*I  am  hight  Albanus,  and  I  believe  in  the  Saviour, 

who  is  the  true  God,  and  made  all  creatures ; 

to  Him  I  pray,  and  Him  will  I  ever  worship.'  64 

The  murderer  answered  the  glorious  man, 

*If  thou  wilt  have  the  felicity  of  the  everlasting  life, 

then  thou  must  not  delay  to  sacrifice 

to  the  great  gods,  with  full  submission.'  68 

Alban  answered  him :    '  Your  sacrifices  to  the  gods, 

which  ye  offer  to  devils,  cannot  help  you, 

nor  profit  your  cause,  but  ye  shall  receive  as  your  meed 

everlasting  punishments  in  the  wide-reaching  hell.'  7a 

Lo !   then  the  judge  became  fiendishly  ii-ate, 

and  commanded  men  to  scourge  the  holy  martyr, 

weening  that  he  might  bend  the  steadfastness  of  his  mind 

to  his  (own)  forms  of  worship  by  means  of  the  stripes ;  76 

but  the  blessed  man  was  strengthened  by  God, 

and  bore  the  scourging  exceeding  patiently, 

and  with  glad  mind  thanked  God  for  it. 

Then  the  judge  perceived  that  he  could  not  overcome  80 

the  holy  man  by  the  severe  tortures, 

nor  turn  [liim]  from  Christ,  and  commanded  them  to  kill  him 

by  decapitation,  for  the  Saviour's  name. 

Then  the  heathen  did  as  the  judge  commanded  them,  84 

and  led  the  Saint  unto  his  beheading; 

but  they  were  delayed  a  long  while  at  a  bridge, 

and    stood    still    until    evening    by    reason    of    the    exceeding 

crowd 
of  men  and  of  women  who  were  stirred  up,  88 

78.  ge])yldelice.  dunge).     namam  («o). 

79.  glade.  84.  hf. 

81.  hetelum.  85.  Iseddon. 

82.  ])a  {for  and).     U.  ins.  he  hef.  86.  brigge. 
hine.  87.  ^fnunge. 

83.  swyr'Ses     ecge    {for    beheaf-  88,  wera. 

27-2 


« 

420  XIX.    PASSIO   SANCTI   ALBANI,   MARTYRIS. 

and  comon  to  Sam  martyre  and  him  mid  eoden  . 

Hit   gelamp  tSa  .  swa  pcet  se  geleafleasa  dema 

ungereordod  sset  .  on  tSsere  ceastra  otS  sefen 

butan  selcere  tSenunge  unj^ances  fsestende  .  92 

Hwset  tSa  albanus  efstan  wolde  to  siege  . 

and  code  to  Jjsere  6d,  })aSa  he  ofer  ]?a  brycge  ne  mihte  . 

and  beseah  to  heofonum  Jjone  hselend  biddende  . 

and  seo  ea  J)0er-i*ihte  adruwode  him  setforan  .  96 

and  him  weg  rymde  .  swa  swa  he  ge-wilnode  set  gode  . 

pa  wear's  se  cwellere  pe  hine  acwellan  sceolde 

Jjurh  \)cet  wundor  abryrd  .  and  awearp  his  swurd 

arn  Sa  ardlice  JjaSa  hi  ofer  Sa  ea  comon  .  100 

and  feoll  to  his  fotum  mid  fullum  geleafan  . 

wolde  mid  him  sweltan  serSan  pe  he  hine  sloge  . 

He  wearS  Tpa  gean-lseht  mid  anrsedum  geleafan 

to  Sam  halgan  were  pe  he  beheafdian  sceolde  .  104 

and  pcet  swurd  laeg  ]38er  scynende  him  setforan  . 

and  heora  nan  nolde  naht  eaSe  hine  slean  . 

Da  waes  Sser  gehende  j^am  halgan  wsere 

An  myrige  dun  mid  V^yrtum  amet  .  108 

mid  eallre  fsegernysse  and  eac  ful  smeSe. 

pa  eode  albanus  ardlice  Syder  . 

and  baed  sona  set  gode  J?set  he  him  sealde  wseter 

uppan  Ssere  dune  .  and  he  dyde  swd  .  112 

peer  arn  pa.  wylspryncg  set  albanes  fotum 

pcet  men  mihton  tocnawan  his  mihte  wiS  god  . 

pa  Sa  se  stream  arn  of  Seere  sticolan  dune  . 

He  wearS  pa  be-heafdod  for  Sees  ^  haelendes  naman  116 

uppan  Ssere  dune  .  and  to  his  drihtne  ferde 

mid  sigefsestum  martyr-dome  .  and  soSum  geleafan 

89.  eodon.  97.  wilnode. 

91.  ceastre.     gefen.  98.  cwellera. 

92.  buton.  99.  wunderonbrnrd. 

93.  Hwffit.     efestan,  100.  &  arn.     hi.     6d. 

94.  eode.     brfcge.  102.  swyltan.     aerj^am. 
96.  4d.  103.  anrxdum. 

'  Leaf  91. 


XIX.    PASSION   OF   ST.  ALBAN,    MARTYK,  421 

and  came  to  the  martyr,  and  went  with  him. 

So  then  it  fell  out  that  the  unbelieving  judge 

sat  unfed  in  the  town  until  evening, 

without  any  meal,  fasting  against  his  will.  93 

Lo  !   then  Alban  would  hasten  to  death, 

and  went  to  the  stream  when  he  could  not  go  over  the  bridge, 

and  looked  up  to  heaven,  praying  to  the  Saviour, 

and  the  stream  thereupon  dried  up  before  him,  96 

and  made  a  broad  way  for  him,  even  as  he  had  desired  of  God. 

Then  the  executioner,  who  was  to  kill  him, 

was  touched  by  that  miracle,  and  threw  away  his  sword, 

and  ran  quickly,  as  soon  as  they  had  come  over  the  stream,  100 

and  fell  at  his  feet  with  full  faith, 

desiring  to  die  with  him  rather  than  to  slay  him. 

He  was  then  united,  with  resolute  faith, 

to  the  holy  man  whom  he  was  to  have  beheaded ;  104 

and  the  sword  lay  there  shining  before  them, 

and  not  one  of  them  would  readily  slay  him. 

Then  was  there  nigh  at  hand  to  the  holy  man 

a  pleasant  hill,  adorned  with  plants,  108 

with  all  fairness,  and  eke  full  smooth. 

Then  went  Alban  quickly  thither, 

and  straightway  prayed  God  that  He  would  give  him  water 

upon  the  hill,  and  He  did  so.  112 

Then  ran  the  well-spring  at  Alban's  feet, 

that  men  might  understand  his  power  with  God, 

when  the  stream  ran  from  the  steep  hill. 

He  was  then  beheaded  for  the  Saviour's  name,  n6 

upon  the  hill,  and  departed  to  his  Lord 

by  victorious  martyrdom,  and  with  true  faith; 

107.  haligan  were.  113.  wyll-sprin§. 

108.  an.  114.  niihte.  geseo  (/or  tocnawan). 

109.  ealre.     full.  115.  sticelan. 

110.  U.  om.  ardlice.  117.  up  on. 

112.  dude.  118.  geleafun  (corf .  <o  geleafan). 


422  XIX.    PASSIO   SANCTI   ALBANI,   MARTYRIS. 

ac  his  slaga  ne  moste  gesundful  lybban  . 

fortJam  "pe  him  burston  tit  butu  his  eagan  .  120 

and  to  eor^an  feollon  mid  albanes  heafde  . 

"jpcet  he  mihte  oncnawan  hwsene  he  acwealde 

Hi  beheafdodon  sy'StSan  fjoqe  sotJfsestan  cempan 

J)e  nolde  beheafdian  cSone  halgan  wer  .  124 

and  he  Iseg  mid  albane  gelyfed  on  god  . 

mid  his  blode  gefullod  and  ferde  to  heofonum  . 

Eft  Sa  'Sa  cwelleras  comon  to  heora  hlaforde  . 

and  hi  ssedon  ]?a  syllican  tacna  (5e  albanus  worhte  .  128 

and  hu  se  wear's  ablend  ]?e  hine  beheafdode  . 

Sa  het  he  gesvvican  Jjsere  ehtnysse  and  arwurSlice  spraec 

be  c5am  halgum  martyrum  .  Ipe  he  ne  mihte  gebigan 

fram  godes  geleafan  }?urh  'Sa  gramlican  witu  .  132 

On  tSeere  ylcan  ehtnysse  wurdon  ofslagene  . 

ddron  .  and  lulius  .  and  oSre  manega 

wera  .  and  wifa  .  wide  geond  engla  land  . 

for  cristes  geleafan  ge-cwylmede  on  witum  .  136 

and  hi  ferdon  sige-fseste  to  J^am  soSan  life  . 

Seo  ehtnys  geswdc  tSa  .  and  eoden  ]?a  cristenan 

of  wudum  and  of  wsestenum  J?ser  hi  wseron  behydde  . 

and  comon  to  mannum  and  cristen-dom  ge-edniwodon  .  140 

and  gebetton  cyrcan  Ipe  to-brocene  wseron  . 

wunodon  tSa  on  sybbe  mid  socSum  geleafan  . 

Hi  worhton  eac  ]3a  wurtSlice  cyrcan 

]3am  halgan  albane  Sser  he  bebyrged  wees  .  144 

and  ]?3er  wurdon  gelome  wundra  gefremode  . 

Jjam  hselende  to  lofe  Se  leofaS  A  on  ecnysse  . 

pis  wses  geworden  ger  tSset  gewinn  come 

Surh  hengest  .  and  horsan  pe  hyndon  Sa  bryttas  .  148 

and  se  cristen-dom  wearS  ge-unwurSod  sySSan  . 

cISpcet  agustinus  hine  eft  astealde  . 

119.  gesundfuU.  128.  hi.     ])d. 

120.  for'San  J)8e.  129.  hiS. 

122.  h^.    hwsene.  130.  geswlcan.     arwuriSIice. 

123.  HI.  131.  h6. 
125.  gelufed.                                              132.  wltu. 


XIX.    PASSION   OF   ST.  ALBAN,   MAKTYR.  423 

but  his  slayer  might  not  live  in  full  health, 

because  that  both  his  eyes  burst  out  of  him,  120 

and  fell  to  the  earth  with  Alban's  head, 

that  he  might  understand  whom  he  had  killed. 

They  beheaded  afterward  the  faithful  soldier 

who  would  not  behead  the  holy  man,  124 

and  he  lay  beside  Alban,  believing  in  God, 

baptized  with  his  blood,  and  departed  to  Heaven. 

Afterward,  when  the  executioners  came  to  their  lord, 

and  related  the  wonderful  signs  which  Alban  had  wrought,         128 

and  how  he  was  blinded  who  had  beheaded  him, 

then  he  bade  them  stay  the  persecution,  and  spake  reverently 

of  the  holy  martyrs,  whom  he  could  not  turn 

from  God's  faith  by  the  terrible  torments.  133 

In  that  same  persecution  were  [also]  slain 

Aaron  and  Julius,  and  many  others, 

both  of  men  and  women,  widely  throughout  England, 

killed  by  tortures  for  Christ's  faith,  136 

and  they  departed  victoriously  to  the  true  life. 

Then  the  persecution  ceased,  and  the  Christians  came 

out  of  the  woods,  and  out  of  the  wastes,  where  they  had  been  hidden, 

and  went  amongst  men,  and  restored  Christianity,  140 

and  repaired  churches  that  were  wholly  ruined, 

and  dwelt  there  in  peace  with  true  faith. 

Then  they  built  likewise  a  worthy  church 

to  the  holy  Alban,  where  he  was  buried,  144 

and  there  frequently  were  miracles  performed 

to  the  praise  of  the  Saviour  who  liveth  ever  in  eternity. 

This  was  done  before  that  strife  came 

through  Hengest  and  Horsa  who  defeated  the  Britons,  148 

and  Christianity  was  again  dishonoured, 

until  Augustine  re-established  it, 

134.  ^^ron.  I43-  Hf. 

136.  cristses.     wltum.  144.  h^. 

138.  ehtnyss.     eodon  ])^.    ^  148.  hors. 

139.  westenum.     hi.     behydde.  149.  pe  (/or  se). 
142.  &  wonuden. 


424  XIX.    PASSIO  SATSrCTI  albani,  martyris. 

be  gregories  lare  J^ses  geleaffullan  papan  . 

Sy  wuldor  and  lof  J?am  welwillendan  scyppende  15  a 

seSe  ure  fsederas  feondum  set-brsed  . 

and  to  fulluhte  gebigde  Jjurh  his  bydelas.     AMEN. 

ITEM  ALIA.     [ACITOFEL  ET  ABSALON.] 

[Collated  with  U.  =;  MS.  Cambridge  University  Library,  li.  i.  33,  p.  294; 
J.  =  MS.  Junius  23,  fol.  66;  D.  =  MS.  Corpus  Christi  College,  Cambridge, 
303.  P-  340-] 

IS  NV  EAC  to  witenne  pcet  man  witnacS  foroft 
Sa  arleasan  ^  scea'San  and  J^a  swicolan  tSeofas  .  156 

ac  hi  nabba(5  nan  edlean  set  Ipaxn  selmihtigan  gode  . 
ac  swySor  pa  ecean^  witu  for  heora  wselhreownysse  . 
for^an  pe  hi  leofodon  be  reaflace  swa  swa  ret5e  wulfas  . 
and  J)am  rihtwisum  setbrudon  heora  bigleofan  foroft.  160 

Wolde  hum  se  earming  hine  sylfne  bej^encan  . 
and  his  synna  geandettan  mid  so^re  behreowsunge  . 
huru  (Sonne  he  on  bendum  biS  .  and  gebroht  to  cwale 
swa  swa  se  scea'Sa  dyde  .  pe  forscylgod  hangode  164 

mid  J)am  hselende  criste  .  and  cwceS  him  to  mid  geleafan  . 
Drihten  leof  gemiltsa  me  .  ]5onne  'Su  becymst  on  Sinum  rice  . 
Se  hselend  him  andwyrie  .  SotS  ic  pe  secge 
nu  to-daeg  pn  bist  mid  me  on  neorxna-wange.  168 

pus  ge-earnode  se  arleasa  sceatSa  . 
on  his  deacSes  J^rowunge  poet  ece  lif  mid  criste  . 
forj^an  Se  he  gelyfde  on  criste  .  and  his  miltsunga  bsed  . 
Yfele  deS  him  sylfum  pe  mid  swicdome  his  tilaS  .  172 

and  he  bicS  sceaSena  gefera  pe  man  sceandlice  witnacS . 
Se  swicola  bedyddraS  his  dseda  wicS  menn  . 

153.  setbrged.  D.  wselhreownesse;  U.welhreownysse, 

Title.       D.     Qtjom.odo    Acitopel  159.  U.  leofodan.    D.  reaflace. 

ET  MTILTI  AMI  iiAQUEis  SE  SUSPEND-  i6o.  D.  rihtwisan ;    U.  rihtwfsan. 

EBVNT.  U.  setbriidon. 

155.  U.  eac.     U.  ■witna'S.  161.  TJ.  huru  J)e.     D.  selfne. 

156.  U.  ]>d.     U.  swicolan.  162.  TJ.  behreowsunge. 

157.  D.U.  hi.  163.  U.  hiiru,     D.  Jionum. 

1 58.  D.  ecan ;    TJ.  dean.     TJ.  wlta.  1 64.  D.  sceaSe ;     TJ.  sceaSu.       D. 

^  Leaf  91,  back,  *  ecan,  alt.  to  ecean. 


XIX.     PASSION    OF    ST.  ALBAN,    MARTYR.  425 

according  to  the  instruction  of  Gregory,  the  faithful  pope. 

Be  glory  and  praise  to  the  benevolent  Creator,  152 

who  delivered  our  fathers  from  their  foes, 

and  disposed  them  to  baptism  by  means  of  His  preachers.     Amen. 

ITEM  ALIA.    AHITOPHEL  AND  ABSALOM. 

[N.B.  This  Homily  is  really  distinct  from  the  foregoing,  but  is  not 
recognised  as  such  in  the  Table  of  Contents.] 

It  is  now  also  to  wit  that  we  very  often  punish 
wicked  robbers  and  treacherous  thieves,  156 

but  they  shall  have  no  reward  from  Almighty  God, 
but  rather  the  everlasting  torments  for  their  cruelty, 
because  they  lived  by  raphie,  like  savage  wolves,  159 

and  oftentimes  snatched  away  from  the  righteous  their  subsistence. 
Would  that  at  least  the  miserable  man  would  bethink  himself, 
and  confess  his  sins  with  true  contrition, 
at  least  when  he  is  in  bonds  and  is  led  to  death, 
even  as  the  thief  did,  who  hung  condemned  164 

with  the  Saviour  Christ,  and  said  to  him  with  faith, 
'  Lord  and  Master,  have  pity  on  me  when  Thou  comest  into  Thy 

kingdom.' 
The  Saviour  answered  him,  'Verily  I  say  unto  thee, 
now  to-day  thou  shalt  be  with  Me  in  Paradise.'  168 

Thus  earned  the  wicked  thief, 
in  his  death-throes,  the  eternal  life  with  Christ, 
because  he  believed  in  Christ,  and  besought  His  mercy. 
Evilly  doeth  he  to  himself  who  provides  for  himself  fraudulently,  172 
and  he  shall   be  the  companion  of   robbers,  whom   men   punish 

ignominiously. 
The  deceiver  concealeth  his  deeds  from  man, 

forscyldgod;     U.    forscyldegod.      U.  170.  U.  |)rowungse.  D.  ece.  D.U.lif. 

h^ngode.  171.  U.h^.   D.U.  hine  (/or  criste). 

165.  U.  h^lende.  D.U.  miltsunge. 

166.  D.  Drihton.   TJ.  l^of.    D.U.  to  172.  D.  selfum.  U.  swlcdome.  D.U. 
{for  on).  teola^. 

167.  U.  aracZwerde.  173.  D.  beo^  sceaSe.     U.  witna^. 

168.  D.  om.  mid  me.      U.  neorxna  174.  D.  bedyderaS  ;  U.  bedydra??. 
w^nge.  D.U.  men. 


426  XIX.     PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYRIS. 

ac  hi  beotS  geopenode  oft  unj^ances 

huru  on  domes  dseg  .  Jjser  nan  tSincg  digle  ne  biS  .  176 

and  he  lisefS  j^onne  ece  wite  fortSan  pe  his  wserscype  ne  dohte  . 

Se  sceatSa  bitS  nu  ofslagen  and  to  scearae  getucod  . 

and  his  earme  sawl  sytSSan  sytSatS  to  helle 

to  Sam  ecum  suslum  on  sweartum  racenteagum  .  i8o 

"We  wena(5  swa'Seah  pcBf  se  eall Vealdenda '^  hselend 

wille  ge-miltsian  J)am  manfullan  sceacSan  . 

gif  he  mid  eallre  heortan  and  incundre  geomerunge 

clypatS  to  t5am  selmihtigan  gode^  and  his  arfaestnysse  bit.     184 

8ert5an  }?e  Ipcet  scearpe  swurd  swege  to  his  hneccan . 

and  gif  he  bemsentS  his  synna  ^  swy'Sor  J)onne  his  lif . 

and  mid  wope  gewilnatS  Jjses  eall^wealjiendes  miltsunge. 

Ac  se  swicola  deofol  pe  beswac  tSone  J^eof .  188 

and  sefre  forlserde  ocS  his  lifes  ende  . 

nele  naht  eatSe  on  his  ende  gecSafian 

Tpcet  he  }?onne  gecyrre  mid  so'Sre  behreowsunge  . 

and  mid  incundum  wope  .  to  |jam  wel-willendan  hselende  .     192 

ac  cunnatJ  mid  eallum  craef^te  hu  he  hine  criste  aet-brede  . 

Eac  swylce  hlaford-swican  losiatS  on  ende 

swa  swa  us  bee  secgatS  sot51ice  gehwser  . 

Sum  woruld-wita  wses  swytJe  wis  on  raede  acitofel  ^  gehaten  ^  .  196 

mid  dauide  |jam  cynincge  Ipe  gode  wses  gecweme  , 

on  Sam  timan  pe  absalon  his  agen  sunu 

ongan  winnan  wicS  |3one  feeder  .  and  wolde  hine  adrsefan 

of  his  cyne-dome  and  acwellan  gif  he  mihte  .  200 

pa  wses  se  acitofel  mid  absalone  on  raede  . 

and  raedde  him  sona  hu  he  beswican  mihte 

his  agenne  feeder  Saer  he  on  fleame  waes  . 

1 76.  D.TJ.  Jjing.  cundre.     D.  geomrunge. 

177.  U.  ece  wite.  U.  waerscipe.               184.  XJ.  cleopaS.       D.U.  om.  gode. 

178.  D.  ofslagan.  D.  arfestnesse ;    U.  arfestnysse.      U. 

179.  D.U.  sawul.  D.  si^aj).                 bitt. 

181.  D.  om.  call.       U.  well-willen-  185.  D.  om.  fe.      U.  sw^ge.       U. 
da  haelend.  hneccan. 

182.  D.  manfuUum.  186.  D.  swoSor.     U.  lif. 

183.  U.  h^.       D.  ealre.       U.  Inn-  187.  D.U.  om.  eall.  D.  wealdendas. 

^  Above  the  line,  '  Final  e  alt.  to  a.,  ^  Leaf  92. 


XIX.     PASSION   OF    ST.  ALBAN,    MARTYR.  427 

but  they  will  be  revealed,  often  against  his  will, 

at  least  at  Doomsday,  when  nothing  shall  be  secret,  176 

and  he  shall  have  eternal  punishment,  because  his  caution  availed 

him  nothing. 

The  robber  will  be  slain  now,  and  ignominiously  punished, 

and  his  miserable  soul  afterwards  shall  journey  to  hell 

to  the  everlasting  torments,  in  swart  chains.  180 

We  ween  nevertheless  that  the  Allruling  Saviour 

will  compassionate  the  wicked  robber, 

if  he,  with  all  his  heart  and  inward  lamentation, 

crieth  to  the  Almighty  God,  and  beseecheth  His  mercy  184 

before  the  sharp  sword  may  sway  to  his  neck  ; 

and  if  he  bemoaneth  his  sins  more  than  his  [loss  of]  life, 

and,  with  weeping,  desireth  the  Almighty's  compassion. 

But  the  false  devil,  who  deceived  the  robber,  188 

and  ever  seduced  him  until  his  life's  end, 

will  in  no  wise  easily  permit  him,  at  his  ending, 

to  turn  then,  with  true  repentance, 

and  with  inward  weeping,  to  the  benevolent  Saviour;  192 

but  will  try  with  all  his  craft  to  draw  him  away  from  Christ. 

So  likewise  will  traitors  perish,  in  the  end, 

even  as  books  verily  tell  us  everywhere.  195 

There  was  a  certain  councillor,  wise  in  speech,  hight  Ahitophel, 

with  David  the  king  who  was  pleasing  to  God, 

at  the  time  when  Absalom,  his  own  son, 

began  to  war  against  his  father,  desiring  to  drive 

him  out  of  his  kingdom,  and  kill  him,  if  he  could.  300 

Then  this  Ahitophel  was  with  Absalom  in  council, 

and  advised  him  straightway  how  he  might  ensnare 

his  own  father,  while  he  was  in  flight; 

188.  U.  swicola.    D.  ins.  se  bef.  J>e.  196.  U.    worold-wlta.         U.   wfs. 

U.  besw^c.  D.  rsede.  D.U.  om.  acitofel  gehaten. 

190.  TJ.  getJafien.  197.  D.  cyniuge ;    U.  kininge.  U. 

191.  D.  ^onum;     U.  tSone.         U.  gecweme. 
behr^owsun'ge.  198.  D.U.  absalon. 

192.  U.  w<5pe.     U.  ])a,m  willendan.  199.  D.  adraefen. 

193.  D.  aetbraede;  U.  setbr^de.  201.  U.  wses.     D.U.  raede. 

194.  U.  E^c.     U.  -swlcen.  202.  U.  h^  beswfcan. 

195.  D.U.  h6c.     U.  gehwer.  203.  U.  h4. 


428  XIX.     PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYRIS. 

ac  sum  ocSer  psegn  witS-cwsetS  his  getSeahte  wislice  .  204 

and  tsehte  Absalone  0(5erne  raed 

wyrsan  to  his  willan  .  forSan  pe  hit  god  wolde  swa 

pcet  dauid  wurde  fram  heora  wodnysse  ahrsed  . 

pa  ge-bealh  hine  acitofel  and  mid  bealwe  wearS  afylled  .        208 

forSan  pe  his  raed  ne  moste  Jjam  reSan  gelician  . 

for  ISass  ocSres  raede  and  rdd  him  hdm  sona  . 

becwse'S  pa.  his  tSincg  .  and  acwealde  hine  sylfne 

on  healicum  grine  pcet  he  hangigende  sweolt  .  «i2 

Swa  geendode  se  wita  his  wael-hrcowe  gej^eaht . 

setSe  wolde  bersedan  his  rihtwisan  hlaford  . 

Absalon  cSa  ferde  forS  mid  his  unrsede  . 

and  wolde  his  agenum  feeder  feores  benseman^  .  216 

and  habban  his  anweald  .  ac  hit  nolde  god  . 

He  rad  Sa  on  his  mule  mid  mycelre  fyrde 

Jjurh  senne  heahne  holt  mid  hetelicum  gefjance  . 

pa.  ge-feng  hine  an  treow  be  Sam  fexe  sona  .  220 

fortJan  pe  he  wees  sidfeexede  and  he  swa  hangode  . 

and  se  mul  arn  forS  fram  J^am  arleasan  hlaforde  . 

and  dauides  Jjegnas  hine  Jjurh-Sydon  . 

Swa  geendode  se  faeder-swica  mid  his  feore  his  unrsed^  .         224 

Eall  swa  eac  iudas  t5e  wselhreowlice  belsewde 

urne  haelend  crist  .  acwealde  hine  sylfne 

hangiende  on  grine  .  godes  wit5er-saca 

ecelice  for-demed  swa  swa  drihtnes  belsewa  .  228 

JElc  man  bi'S  eac  fordemed  pe  hine  sylfne  adyt  . 

and  aelc  agen-slaga  a  on  ecnysse  SrowaS  . 

and  hlaford-swican  losiacS  on  ende  . 

mid  ]?am  getreowleasan  deofle  pe  hi  tihte  to  Sam  swicMome  .      232 

204.  D.U.  Jegen.           '  214.  U.  bersdan. 

206.  U.  wolde  god.  215.  U.  unrxde. 

207.  D.  wodnesse.     D.U.  ahred.  218.  D.  rad.    U.  mule.    D.  ferde. 

208.  U.  bealuwe.  219.  TJ.  heah  hdlt.     U.  hetelum. 

209.  D.  forjam.     U.  rxd.  220.  D.U.  feaxe. 

210.  D.  rad.     D.  ham.  221.  U.  h^   was.  D.   sid-feaxode; 

211.  D.U.  fing.     D.  selfne.  U.  sidfeaxe.    U.  hangode. 

212.  D.  swealt.  222.  U.  m61. 

213.  U.  Swd. 

*  bensemen,  alt.  to  beneeman.        *  rjed,  alt,  to  um-aed.      ^  Leaf  92,  back. 


XIX.    PASSION   OF   ST.  ALBAN,   MARTYR.  429 

but  another  thane  wisely  opposed  his  design,  204 

and  showed  Absalom  a  different  counsel, 
worse  to  his  [Ahitophel's]  liking,  because  God  thus  intended 
that  David  should  be  delivered  from  their  madness. 
Then  Ahitophel  was  angry,  and  became  filled  with  wickedness,  208 
because  his  counsel  might  not  please  the  cruel  man, 
by  reason  of  the  other's  rede,  and  straightway  rode  him  home, 
bequeathed  his  property,  and  killed  himself 
in  a  high  noose,  so  that  he  died  by  hanging.  212 

So  the  councillor  ended  his  cruel  design, 
who  sought  to  advise  wrongly  his  true  lord. 
Absalom  then  fared  forth  with  his  evil  counsel, 
desiring  to  deprive  his  own  father  of  life  2i<» 

and  possess  his  dominion,  but  God  willed  it  not. 
Then  he  rode  on  his  mule  with  a  great  army 
through  a  high  wood,  with  hostile  intention ; 
then  speedily  a  tree  caught  him  by  the  hair,  220 

because  be  was  long-haired,  and  he  hanged  so, 
and  the  mule  ran  forward  from  the  wicked  lord, 
and  David's  thanes  pierced  him  through. 

So   the   traitor  to   his   father   ended   his   evil    counsel   with   his 
life.  224 

So  likewise  Judas,  who  cruelly  betrayed 
our  Saviour  Christ,  killed  himself 
by  hanging  in  a  noose,  an  apostate  from  God, 
everlastingly  damned  as  the  Lord's  betrayer.  228 

Every  man  shall  likewise  be  damned  who  killeth  himself, 
and  every  suicide  shall  suffer  everlastingly, 
and  traitors  shall  perish  in  the  end 
with  the  perfidious  devil  who  incited  them  to  treachery.         233 

223.  IT.   J)urh])ydon,  corr.  to  furh-      TJ.  belijewa. 

fyddon.  229.  U.  for-d^med.     D.  selfne.    U. 

224.  U.  faederswica.    D.  rsed ;    U.      adyt. 

rsed  (/or  unrsed).  230.  U.  a.    D.  ecnesse;  U.  ^cnysse. 

225.  TJ.  sw^.  231.  U.  hlaford-swlcan. 

226.  D.  selfne.  232.  D.  Line  {for  hi),      U.  swic- 

227.  D.  hangigende.  dome, 

228.  D.  be  fordemed.  U.  sw^  swiS. 


430  XIX.    PASSIO    SANCTI    ALBANI,    MARTYRIS. 

Eall  swa  Ipa.  unriht-wisan  deman  ])e  heora  domas  awendaS 

sefre  be  l^am  sceattum  na  be  so'Sfsestnysse  . 

and  habbatS  sefre  to  c6pe  heora  sotSfsestnysse  . 

and  swa  hi  sylfe  syllatS  witS  sceattum  .  236 

Jjonne  habbatS  hi  on  ende  for  heora  unrihtwisnysse 

mid  J)am  swicolan  deofle  J?a  ecan  susle  . 

Se  rihtwisa  dema  sceall  deman  sefre  riht  . 

and  fyr'Srian  ]?a  rihtwisnysse  for  godes  lufon  symle  .  240 

forcSan  Ipe  tSa  sceattas  ablendatS  swa  swa  us  bee  secgatS 

Jjsera  manna  mod  pe  hi  manfullice  nimatS  . 

and  tSa  domas  awenda'S  to  wohnysse  swd  . 

Ne  sceall  nan  godes  J^egn  for  sceattum  riht  deman  .  244 

ac  healdan  Jjone  dom  gif  he  drihtnes  man  sy  . 

buton  lySrum  sceattum  symle  to  rihte  . 

pcet  he  on  ]?am  ecan  life  his  edlean  underfo  . 

Sume  menn  syllaS  eac  cyrcan  to  hyre  248 

swdswd  wdclice  mylna  .  \>cet  msere  godes  bus 

pe  wses  gode  betseht  to  his  biggencgum  , 

to  tSam  cristen-dome  Jje  crist  sylf  astealde  . 

ac  hit  ne  gedafnatS  pcet  man  d<5  godes  bus  252 

anre  mylne  gelic  for  lySrum  tolle  . 

and  setSe  hit  detS  he  sincatS  swy?5e  deope  . 

Gescylde  us  se  scyppend  pe  gesceop  us  to  mannum 

wiS  pdss  deofles  swic-dom  pe  syrwS  embe  us  .  256 

and  us  mild-heort-lice  gelsede  to  'Sam  ecan  life  . 

on  Sam  is  ece  wuldor  on  eallra  worulda  woruld.     AMEN. 

233.  D,  Eal-swa;  U.  Eall  sw^.  D.U.  sceal.     U.  seffre. 

234.  U.  n^.    D.  soSfaestnesse.  240.  D.  rihtwisnesse.    D.U.  lufan. 

235.  U.  seflr^.  D.  ceape.  D.U.  so'S-  241.  D.  forjjam. 
fa;stnesse.                                                           242.  U.  mdd.     U.  hi. 

236.  D.U.  hi.    D.  selfe  sellaS.  243.  D.  awsendaS.        D.  wohnesse 

237.  D.  hi.     D.  -nesse.  swa. 

238.  U.  ^can.       U.  pfnunge  {for         244.  D.U.  sceal.    D.U.  ])egen.     U. 
Busle),  riht  {alt.  to  unriht). 

339.  U.  f>e  (/or  Se).  D.  rihtwisae.  245.  U.  hd  drihfcenes.   D.  si. 


XIX.     PASSION   OF   ST.  ALBAN,   MARTYR.  431 

So  likewise  those  unrighteous  judges  who  pervert  their  judgments, 

always  for  gain,  and  not  for  justice, 

and  always  offer  their  justice  for  sale, 

and  thus  sell  themselves  for  the  sake  of  money,  236 

then  shall  they  have  in  the  end,  for  their  unrighteousness, 

eternal  torments  with  the  treacherous  devil. 

The  righteous  judge  must  judge  ever  aright, 

and  ever  further  justice  for  the  love  of  God,  240 

seeing  that  bribes  blind,  even  as  books  tell  us, 

the  minds  of  men  who  wickedly  take  them  [Prov.  xxii.  9,  Vulg.], 

and  thus  pervert  their  judgments  into  injustice. 

None  of  God's  thanes  may  decide  a  cause  for  gain,  244 

but  maintain  the  judgment,  if  he  be  the  Lord's  man, 

without  miserable  bribes,  ever  for  the  right, 

that  he  may  receive  his  reward  in  the  eternal  life.  , 

Likewise  some  men  sell  even  a  church  for  hire,  248 

as  it  were  worthless  mills,  the  glorious  House  of  God, 

which  was  dedicated  to  God  for  His  service, 

for  that  Christianity  which  Christ  Himself  founded; 

but  it  befitteth  not  that  men  make  God's  House  252 

like  unto  a  mill,  for  vile  toll ; 

and  he  who  doeth  it  shall  sink  [or  sinneth]  very  deeply. 

May  the  Creator,  who  created  us  as  men,  shield  us 

from  the  deceit  of  the  devil  who  layeth  snares  about  us,        256 

and  mercifully  bring  us  to  the  eternal  life, 

wherein  is  everlasting  glory  for  ever  and  ever.     Amen. 

247.  U.  h.6.     V.  ece.     D.  underfo.  253.  D.  tolne. 

248.  D.U.  men.     ^   D.  eac  syUaS;  254.   U.  pe  «e  (for  setSe).     D.U. 
U.  syllaS  e^c.     U.  hyre.  synga'S. 

249.  D.U.  swa  swa.    D.U.  waclice.  255.  U.  Tpe  {for  se).     D.  sceppend. 
D.U.  hds.  U,  manne. 

250.  D.  biggengum  ;   U.  bigengum.  256.  U.  om.  ]pe  .  .  .  us. 

251.  D.  self.  258.    U.  ^ce.        D.  ealra  woruld. 

252.  D.  geSafenafJ ;  U.  ge-dafena'S.  Amen ;     U.    ealra    worolda    worold. 
U.  doS  {for  d6),    D.U.  bus.  Amen. 


432  XX.    NATALE   SANCTE   JSDELDRYDE,  VIRGINIS. 

XX. 

UIIII.  KAliENDAS  lUL//.     NAT^L^  SANCTIS. 
^DELDRYDE  UIRGINIS. 

[Collated  with  U.  =  MS.  Camb.  Univ.  Lib.  li.  i.  33,  p.  64.     Readings  marked 
'  O.'  are  from  MS.  Otho  B.  10,  fol.  45  (much  burnt)     See  11.  68-119.] 

TT7E  wyllaS  nv  aweitan  Jjeah  be  hit  wundoklic  sy 

'  *     be  Saere  halgan  sancte  ^  seSeldrytSe  }?am  engliscan  msedene  . 
J)e  wses  mid  twam  werum  and  swa-t5eah  wunode  mseden  . 
8wa  swa  ]?a  wundra  ge^swuteliatS  J)e  heo  wyrctS  gelome  .  4 

Anna  hatta  {dc)  hyre  feeder  east  engla  cynincg  . 
swyt5e  cristen  man  swa  swa  he  cydde  mid  weorcum  . 
and  eall  his  team  weartS  gewurtSod  J)urh  god  . 
.yESeldrytS  weartS  f)a  for-gifen  anum  ealdor-menn  to  wife.  8 

ac  hit  nolde^  se  selmihtiga  god'  "poet  hire  maegcS-had  wurde 
mid  hsemede  adylegod  .  ac  heold  hi  on  clsennysse 
fortSan  ]?e  he  is  selmihtig  god  and  mseg  don '  eall  'pmt  he  wile  . 
and  on  manegum  wisum  his  mihte  geswutelatS  .  12 

Se  ealdor-man  gewat  J)a  Sa  hit  wolde  god  . 
and  heo  wear's  forgifen  ecfride  cynincge  . 
and  twelf  gear  wunode  unge-wemmed  mseden 
on  J38es  cynincges  synscype  .  swa  swa''  swutele  wundra  16 

hyre  mser'Sa  cySa]?  .  and  hire '  msegtS-had  gelome  . 
Heo  lufode  Jjone  hselend  J?e  hi  heold  unwemme  . 
and  godes  Seowas  wurcSode  .  an  Jjgera  ^  wses  wilfrid  bisceop 
\)e  heo  swytSost  lufode  .  and  he  saede  bedan  20 

"poet  se  cyning  ecfrid  him  oft  behete  mycel 
on  lande  and  on  feo  .  gif  he  Iseran  mihte 
8etSeldry?5e  his  gebeddan  .  \)(Bt  heo  bruce  his  synscipes  . 
Nu  cwsetS  se  halga  beda  \)Q  Jsas  boc  gesette  .  24 

)3cet  se  selmihtiga  god  mihte  eat5e  gedon 

2.  U.  om.  sancte.  9.  om.  se  selmihtiga.   heore. 

4.  swa  {once  only).  swuteliatS.  10.  hsemede. 

5.  hatte.    cyning.  11.  om.  selmihtig.    and  eall  mag 

6.  swa  {once  only).  l>cet  he  wyle. 
8.  -men.  12.  mihta. 

'  Above  the  line.  *  Leaf  93.  '  J>8ere,  alt.  to  })3era. 


XX.    ST.   J2THELTHRYTH,  VIROm.  433 

XX. 

JUNE  23.    SAINT  ^THELTHRYTH,  VIRGIN. 

[See  Beda,  Eccles.  Hist.  bk.  iv.  c.  19.] 
We  will  now  write,  wonderful  though  it  be, 
concerning  the  holy  ^thelthryth,  the  English  maiden, 
who  had  two  husbands  and  nevertheless  remained  a  virgin, 
as  the  miracles  show  which  she  often  worketh.  4 

Her  father,  the  king  of  the  East  Angles,  was  called  Anna, 
a  very  religious  man,  even  as  he  showed  by  his  deeds, 
and  his  whole  family  was  honoured  by  God. 
^thelthryth  was  given  to  a  certain  alderman  [Tondbyrht]  to  wife ;  8 
but  Almighty  God  would  not  that  her  virginity  should  be 
destroyed  through  cohabitation,  but  preserved  her  in  continence, 
because  He  is  God  Almighty  and  can  do  all  that  He  will, 
and  in  divers  ways  showeth  His  might.  la 

The  alderman  died  when  God  would, 
and  she  was  given  in  marriage  to  King  Ecfrid. 
And  twelve  years  she  lived  in  wedlock  with  the  king, 
yet  continued  an  unpolluted  maiden  ;  even  as  evident  miracles     16 
often  make  known  her  sacred  relics  and  her  virginity. 
She  loved  the  Saviour  who  kept  her  unspotted, 
and  honoured  God's  servants;    one  of  these  was  bishop  Wilfrid, 
whom  she  especially  loved,  and  he  told  Beda  20 

that  king  Ecfrid  often  promised  him  much 
in  lands  and  money  if  he  would  persuade 
jfEthelthryth  his  wife  to  brook  the  marriage-connection. 
Now  the  holy  Beda  who  wrote  this  book  24 

saith  that  Almighty  God  might  easily  cause, 


13.  De(/orSe).  om.  J)a.  god  wolde.  18.  unwemmed. 

14.  gegifen  ecgfri^e  cyninge.  20.  om.  bedan. 

15.  om.  ungewemmed.  21.  ^e  (/or  se).    ecgfrid.    beh6te. 

16.  kyninges  sinscipe.     swa  {once).  22.  fed.    he. 

17.  om.  hire.    mseSg- (sic).  25.  om.  se  selmibtiga.    gedon. 

28 


434  XX.    NATALE   SANCTE   iEDELDRYBE,  VIRGINIS. 

nu  on  urum  dagum  'poet  secSeldryS  j?urh-wunode 

unge-wemmed  mseden  .  peah.  <Se  heo  wer  hsefde  . 

swa  swa  on  ealdum  dagum  hwilon  8er  getimode  28 

]?urh  Jjone  ylcan  god  pe  sefre  J)urh-wuna  ' 

mid  his  gecorenum  halgum  .  swd  swd  I16  sylf  beh^t  . 

JESeldryS  wolde  ?Sa  ealle  woruld-J)incg  forlsetan  . 

and  baed  georne  Jjone  cynincg  poet  heo  criste  moste  |?eowian  .  32 

on  mynsterlicre  drohtnunge  swa  hire  mod  hire  to-speon  . 

pa  lyfde  hire  se  cynincg  ]?eah  pe  hit  embe  lang  wsere 

Jjaes  pe  heo  gewilnode  .  and  wilfrid  bisceop  j[?a 

hi  gehadode  to  mynecene  .  and  heo  sySSan  on  mynstre  wunode 

sume  twelf  mona'S  swa  .  and  heo  sySSan  wearS  gehadod  37 

eft  to  abudissan  on  elig  mynstre  . 

ofer  manega  mynecena  .  and  heo  hi  modorlice  heold 

mid  goduni  gebysnungum  to  Jsam  gastlican  life  .  40 

Be  hire  is  awrytan  (sic)  pcet  heo  wel  drohtnode 

to  anum  maele  faestende  .  butan  hit  freols-dseg  wsere  . 

and  heo  syndrige  gebedu  swytSe  lufode 

and  wyllen  weorode  .  and  wolde  seld-hwsenne  44 

hire  lie  bacSian  butan  to  heahtidum  . 

and  t5onne  heo  wolde  serest  ^  ealle  tSa  batSian 

pe  on  Sam  mynstre  wseron  .  and  wolde  him  tSenian 

mid  hire  jsinenum  .  and  Jjonne  hi  sylfe  batSian  .  48 

pa  on  J?am  eahteo(5an  geare  sicStSan  heo  abbudisse  woes  . 

heo  weartS  geuntrumod  swa  swa  heo  ser  witegode  . 

swa  pcet  an  geswel  weox  on  hire  swuran 

mycel  under  paxn.  cynn-bane  .  and  heo  swi?5e  fiancode  gode^    52 

poet  heo  on  pdsa  swuran  sum  geswinc  J3olode  . 

Heo  cwsetS  ic  wat  geare  poet  ic  wel  wyrtSe  eom  . 

pcBt  min  swura  beo  geswenct  mid  swylcere  untrum-nysse  . 

27.  w^r.  36.  om.  sySSan. 

30.  Bwa  (once),    behet.  37.  ge-h^dod, 

31.  ]>ing.  38.  om.  eft.    abbodyssan. 

32.  cyning.  39.  hi.    geheold. 

33.  mdd.    hito-sp^on.  41.  awriten. 

34.  j>e  cyng.    om.  ]>e.    wsere.  42.  maele.    buton. 

35.  wilfriS.  44.  -hwienne. 

*  Leaf  93,  back.  '  Above  the  line. 


XX.    ST.    iETHELTHEYTH,  VIRGIN.  435 

even  now  In  our  days,  that  -^^thelthryth  should  remain 
a  pure  maiden,  though  she  had  a  husband, 

as  whilom  in  the  old  days  it  formerly  befell,  38 

through  the  (grace  of  the)  same  God,  who  continueth  ever 
with  His  chosen  saints,  even  as  He  Himself  hath  promised, 
-^thelthryth  desired  to  forsake  all  worldly  things, 
and  earnestly  besought  the  king  that  she  might  serve  Christ       32 
in  the  monastic  life,  as  her  disposition  prompted  her. 
Then  the  king  permitted  her,  though  it  was  rather  long  (first), 
to  do  that  which  she  desired,  and  then  bishop  Wilfrid 
gave  her  the  nun's  veil,  and  she  lived  afterwards  in  a  convent  [at 
Coldingham]  36 

about  twelve  months ;    and  she  was  then  again  instituted 
as  abbess  in  the  monastery  of  Ely, 

and  [setj  over  many  nuns,  whom  she  trained  as  a  mother 
by  her  good  example  in  the  religious  life.  40 

It  is  written  of  her  that  she  well  ordered  her  own  life, 
fasting   save  for  one  meal   in   the   day  unless   it  were   a   feast- 
day, 
and  she  greatly  loved  solitary  prayer, 

and  wore  woollen  garments.     She  would  seldom  44 

bathe  her  body  save  at  high  festivals, 
and  then  she  would  first  bathe  all  the  rest 
who  were  in  the  convent,  and  would  wait  upon  them 
with  menial  service,  and  then  wash  herself  (last).  48 

Then  in  the  eighth  year  after  she  was  made  abbess, 
she  was  grievously  aflSicted,  as  she  had  herself  foretold; 
for  a  large  tumour  grew  on  her  throat 

just  under  her  chin-bone,  and  she  earnestly  thanked  God         52 
in  that  she  suffered  a  pain  in  her  neck, 
saying:    'I  know  verily  that  I  am  well  deserving 
that  my  neck  should  be  afilicted  with  so  great  a  malady, 

45.  Ifc.    buton.  51.  geswell. 

48.  hf.  52.  cin-.    om.  gode, 

49.  eahteo'San,  alt.  to  eahteteoSan.  54.  wurSe. 

abbodysse.  55.  suraere  {for  swylcere). 

50.  swa  {once). 

28-2 


436  XX.     NATALE    SANCTE    ^DELDRYfiE,  VIRGINIS. 

forSan  pe  ic  on  iugotSe  fraetwode  minne  swuran  56 

mid  mgenig-fealdum  swur-beagum  .  and  me  is  nu  ge]?uht 

poei  godes  arfsestnyss  Ipone  gylt  aclsensige  . 

jjonne  me  nu  f)is  geswel  scyntS  for  golde  . 

and  J3ses  hata  bryne  for  healicum  gymstanum  .  60 

pa  wses  peer  sum  Isece  on  t5am  geleaffullum  heape  . 

cynefrytS  gehaten  and  hi  cwaedon  pa  sume 

pcet  se  Isece  sceolde  asceotan  pcet  geswell  . 

pa.  dyde  he  sona  swa  .  and  j^aer  sah  ut  wyrms  .  64 

WearS  him  pa,  getSuht  swilce  heo  gewurpan  mihte 

ac  heo  gewat  of  worulde  mid  wuldre  to  gode  . 

on  |3am  tSriddan  dsege  syStSan  se  dolh  waes  geopenod  . 

and  wear's  bebyrged  swa  swa  heo  bsed  sylf  and  h6t .  68 

betwux  hire  geswustrum  .  on  treowenre  cyste  . 

pa  wear's  hire  swustor  sexburh  gehadod 

to  abbudissan  ^  sefter  hire  geendunge  . 

seo  Se  ser  wses  cw6n  ^  on  cantware-byrig  .  ya 

pa  wolde  seo  sexburh  sefter  syxtyne  gearum  . 

don  hire  swustor  ban  of  Ssere  byrgene  up  . 

and  beran  into  |7sere  cyrcan  .  and  sende  J)a  gebroSra 

to  secenne  sumne  stan  to  swilcere  neode  .  76 

forSan  pe  on  ]?am  fenlande  synd  feawa  ^  weorc-stana  . 

Hi  hreowan  ]3a  to  grantan-ceastre  .  and  god  hi  sona  gehradode  . 

swa  poet  hi  Jjser  gemetton  ane  msere  J^ruh 

wiS  Jjone  weall  standende  .  geworht  of  marm-stane  80 

eall  hwites  bleos  bufan  ]33ere  eorSan  . 

and  pcet  hlyd  Sser-to  gelimplice  gefeged  . 

eac  of  hwitum  marm-stane  *  swa  swa  hit  macode  god  . 

pa  naman  Sa  gebroSra  blySelice  pa  Sruh  .  84 

56.  geogotSe.    {Txtevf ode,  alt.  to  ge-  62.  KynefriS,    hf. 
frsetewode.  63.  ^elace. 

57.  menig-.  64.  dude. 

58.  arfestnys.    aclensige.  65.  awyrpan. 

59.  geswell  scinS.  66.  gewat.    om.  mid  wuldre. 

60.  hatse  brune.    healicum.  67.  tie  (for  se). 

61.  ISce.  68.  0.  and  hy.     om.  swa  swa— h^t. 

^  abudissan.^aZf.  to  abbudissan.  "  se  is  altered  to  4. 

^  feawe,  alt.  to  feawa.  *  Leaf  94. 


XX.    ST.   iETHELTHRYTH,  VIRGIN.  437 

because  in  my  youth  I  adorned  my  neck  56 

with  manifold  neck-chains,  and  now  me  thinketh 

that  God's  justice  may  cleanse  my  guilt, 

since  now  I  have  this  swelling,  which  shineth  instead  of  gold, 

and  this  scorching  heat  instead  of  sparkling  gems.'  60 

Amongst  that  faithful  band  there  was  a  certain  leech 

named  Cynefrith,  and  some  of  them  said 

that  the  leech  ought  to  lance  the  tumour ; 

he  did  so  forthwith,  and  there  came  out  matter.  64 

They  thought  then  that  she  might  recover, 

but  she  gloriously  departed  out  of  this  world  to  God 

on  the  third  day  after  the  tumour  was  opened, 

and  was  buried,  as  she  herself  had  asked  and  bidden,  68 

amongst  her  sisters,  in  a  wooden  coffin. 

Then,  after  her  death,  her  sister  Sexburh 

was  consecrated  as  the  abbess, 

who  had  been  aforetime  queen  in  Canterbury.  72 

After  sixteen  years  Sexburh  desired 

to  take  up  her  sister's  bones  from  their  burial-place 

and  translate  them  into  the  church.     Then  she  sent  the  brethren 

to  seek  a  stone  suited  to  that  purpose,  76 

because  in  the  fen-country  there  are  few  hewn  stones. 

They  rowed  to  Grantchester,  and  God  forthwith  prospered  them 

so  that  they  found  there  a  great  coffin, 

standing  against  the  wall,  wrought  of  marble  80 

all  of  white  hue,  above  ground, 

with  a  lid  fitted  excellently  unto  it, 

also  of  white  marble,  even  as  if  God  had  made  it. 

Then  the  brethren  joyfully  took  the  coffin  84 

69.  0.  betweox.     0.  cyste  lecgaii.  76.  st^n. 

70.  swuster.  77.  O.  forfara.     fenn-. 

71.  abbodyssan ;  0.  abbodissau,  om.  78.  HI     reowon.      gr^nta-ceastre. 
geendunge.  M. 

72.  'Seo  (/or  seo).  0.  wsesa.T  cw(5n.  79.  hf.     msere. 
0.  cantwara.  81.  0.  bufon. 

73.  Seo  (/o?*  seo).     O.  syxtene.  82.  hlfd. 

74.  swuster  bdn.  83.  O.  on  {for  of),    hwftum. 

75.  om,  ])?ere. 


438  XX.    NA.TALE   SANCTE  ^DELDRYDE,  VIRGINIS. 

and  gebrohton  to  mynstre  .  mycclum  tSaDcigende  gode  . 

and  sexburh  seo^  abbudisse  het  slean  an  geteld 

bufan  (Sa  byrgene  .  wolde  pa.  b4n  gaderian  . 

Hi  sungon  tSa  ealle  sealmas  .  and  lie-sang  .  88 

jja  hwile  pe  man  (Sa  byrgene  bufan  geopenode  . 

]?a  Iseg  heo  on  c5sere  cyste  .  swilce  heo  laege  on  slsepe 

hal  eallum  limum  .  and  se  Isece  wses  tSser 

tSe  pcet  ge-swell  geopenode  .  and  hi  sceawode  georne  .  92 

pa  waes  seo  wund  gehseled  .  pe  se  laece  worhte  ser  . 

eac  swilce  pa.  ge-wseda  .  pe  heo  bewunden  wses  mid  . 

waeron  swa  ansunde  .  swylee  hi  eall  niwe  wseron  . 

Sexburh  ]3a  hyre  swuster  swicSe  Jjses  fsegnode  .  96 

and  hi  |jwogon  tSa  sy'S'San  jjone  sawl-leasan  lichaman  . 

and  mid  niwum  gewsedum  bewundon  arwurSlice  . 

and  bseron  Into  'Ssere  cyrcan  .  blyssigende  mid  sangum  . 

and  ledon  hi  on  Saere  J?ryh  ,  Jjger  'Sser  heo  liS  ocS  jjis  .  100 

on  mycelre  arwurcSnysse  .  mannum  to  wundrunge  . 

Wses  eac  wundorlic  .  pmt  seo  tSruh  wses  geworht 

J?urh  godes  foresceawunge  hire  swa  gemsete  . 

swylee  heo  hyre  sylfre  swa  ge-sceapen  wsere  .  104 

and  set  hire  hsefde  wses  aheawen  se  stdn  . 

gemsete  jjam  heafde  }?8es  halgan  msedenes  . 

Hit  is  swutol  pcet  heo  wses  ungewemmed  mseden  . 

}5onne  hire  lichama  ne  mihte  formolsnian  on  eorSan  .  108 

and  godes  miht  is  geswutelod  socSHce  J?urh  hi  . 

pcet  he  mseg  arseran  ?5a  for-molsnodon  [sic)  lichaman  . 

se?5e  hire  lie  heold  hdl  on  tSsere  byrgene 

git  oS  Jjisne  dseg  .  Sy  him  tSses  4  wuldor  .  112 

pser  wseron  ge-hselede  J)urh  tJa  halgan  femnan 

fela  adlige  menn  .  swa  swa  we  gefyrn  gehyrdon  . 

85.  miclum  Sanciende.  92.  hi  sceawodon. 

86.  Seo  abbodysse.  93.  Seo  (for  seo).    gehseled.    laece. 

87.  O.  bufon  Jiaere.  wold  {sic)  ban.  94.  gewa;da. 

88.  O.  om.  ealle.     He-.  95.  ealle  nlwe. 

89.  0.  bufon.  97.  hf.      woscean    (for    ])wogon). 

90.  O.U.  lage.  0.  sawul- ;  U.  saul-. 

91.  h^l.    J)e  Isece.  98.  niwum. 

^  se,  cdt.  to  seo. 


XX.     ST.    iETHELTHRYTH,   VIRGIN.  439 

and  brought  it  to  the  monastery,  greatly  thanking  God; 

and  Sexburh  the  abbess  bade  pitch  a  tent 

above  the  burial-place,  wishing  to  collect  the  bones. 

Then  all  the  community  sang  psalms  and  hymns  for  the  dead       88 

while  the  grave  was  being  opened  at  the  top. 

There  she  lay  in  the  coffin  as  if  she  lay  asleep, 

sound  in  all  her  limbs,  and  the  leech  was  present 

who  had  opened  the  tumour,  and  examined  her  carefully.        92 

The  wound  which  the  leech  had  once  made  was  healed  ; 

likewise  the  linen  clothes  in  which  she  had  been   wound 

were  as  fresh  as  if  they  had  been  all  new. 

Thereat  her  sister  Sexburh  was  very  glad,  96 

and  afterwards  they  washed  the  soulless  body, 

and  wound  it  reverently  in  new  garments, 

and  bare  it  into  the  church,  rejoicing  with  hymns, 

and  laid  her  in  the  coffin  wherein  she  lieth  until  now  100 

in  great  honour,  for  men  to  marvel  at. 

Wonderful  was  it  also  that  by  God's  providence 

the  coffin  was  wrought  so  exactly  fitting  her, 

even  as  she  was  herself  shapen;  104 

and  at  the  head  the  stone  was  hollowed  out 

as  if  fitted  to  the  head  of  the  holy  maiden. 

It  is  evident  that  she  was  an  unspotted  virgin, 

since  her  body  was  not  suffered  to  moulder  in  the  earth,       108 

and  in  her,  God's  power  is  verily  manifested, 

namely,  to  raise  up  corruptible  bodies, 

in  that  He  hath  kept  her  body  uncorrupt  in  her  grave 

even  unto  this  day ;  wherefore  to  Him  be  everlasting  glory.  1 1 2 

By  means  of  this  holy  woman  were  healed 

many  sick  men,  as  we  have  heard  of  old  ; 

99.  O.  legdon  ;  U.  bEeron.  io6.  gemsete. 

100.  leddon.     fruh.     Sser  ]>er.     0.  109.  hf. 

omits  this  line.  no.  -molsnodan. 

loi.  O.  wuldruncge.  in.  Ifc.    hal. 

102.  6a,c.    ]>eo  (/or  seo).  113.  gehiielede.    faemnan. 

104.  ware.  114.  gehyrdon   gefym.      0.   omits 

105.  O.U.  heafde.    iiheawen  ])e,  this  line. 


440  XXI.     NATALE   SANCTI    SWYBUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

and  eac  tJa  pe  lirepodon  jpses  reafes  senigne  dael  . 

pe  heo  mid  bewunden  wses  .  wurdon  sona  hale  .  116 

and  manegum  eac  fremode  seo  cyst  micclum  . 

"jpe  heo  serest  on  Iseg  .  swa  swa  se  lareow  beda 

on  tSsere  bee  saede  .  j^e  he  ge-sette  be  <5ysum  . 

Oft  woruld-menn  ^  eac  heoldon  swa  swa  us  bee  secga(5  120 

heora  clsennysse  on  synscipe  for  cristes  lufe 

swa  swa  we  mihton  reccan  gif  ge  rohton  hit  to  gehyrenne  . 

We  secgaS  swa-tSeah  be  sumum  cSegne  . 

se  waes  j?ryttig  geara  mid  his^  wife  on  clsennysse  .  124 

pry  suna  he  gestrynde  .  and  hi  si'S'San  buta 

Srittig  geara  wseron  wunigende  butan  hsemede  . 

and  fela  selmyssan  worhton  .  otS  pcet  se  wer  ferde 

to  munuclicere  drohtnunge  .  and  drihtnes  englas  128 

comon  eft  on  his  forS-siSe  .  and  feredon  his  sawle 

mid  sange  to  heofonum  .  swa  swa  us  secgatS  bee  . 

Manega  bysna  synd  on  bocum  be  swylcum  . 

hu  oft  weras  and  wif  wundorlice  drohtnodon  .  132 

and  on  clsennysse  wunodon  .  to  wuldre  |3am  hselende  . 

J?e  pa,  clgennysse  astealde  .  crist  ure  hselend  . 

p&va  is  d  wurtSmynt  .  and  wuldor  on  ecnysse  .     AMEN  .        135 

XXI. 

UI.  NON'^.S'  lULII.    'NATALE  8AFCT1  SWYDUNI 
ETISCOFI. 

[Collated  with  Gr.  =  Gloucester  Fragments,  ed.  Earle.] 

ON   EADGAEES   DAGUM   D^S   ^BELAN    CYNINCGES  . 
pADA  se  cristendom  wses  wel  Seonde  Jjurh  god 
on  angel-cynne  under  Sam  ylcan  cynincge  . 

pa  geswutelode  god  |5one  sanct  swyt5un  4 

mid  manegum  wundrum  .  pcet  he  msere  is  . 
His  daeda  nseron  cuSe  sertSan  j^e  hi  god  sylf  cydde  . 

115.  hrepodon.  118.  pe  (for  se). 

116.  Mle.  119,  b(5c.     O.  ^set  (/or  )>e).     sette. 

117.  miclum  seo  cyst.  120.  h6c. 

*  Leaf  94,  back.  "  Above  the  line. 


XXI.    SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  441 

those  also  who  touched  any  part  of  the  shroud 

in  which  she  had  been  wound,  were  instantly  cured;  ii6 

and  likewise  the  coffin  wherein  she  had  first  lain 

greatly  benefited  many  persons,  as  the  teacher  Beda 

said  in  the  book  which  he  wrote  concerning  this  holy  woman. 

In  like  manner  have  laymen  also,  as  books  tell  us,  120 

preserved  often  their  chastity  in  the  marriage-state,  for  the  love 

of  Christ, 
as  we  might  relate  if  ye  cared  to  hear  it. 
However,  we  will  tell  you  of  a  certain  thane, 
who  lived  thirty  years  with  his  wife  in  continence;  124 

he  begat  three  sons,  and  thenceforward  they  both  lived 
for  thirty  years  without  cohabitation, 
giving  much  alms,  until  the  husband 

entered  the  monastic  life,  and  God's  angels  128 

came  just  at  his  death,  and  carried  his  soul 
with  song  to  heaven,  as  the  books  tell  us. 
Many  examples  of  such  are  there  in  books, 
how  oftentimes  men  and  their  wives  have  lived  wondrously,       132 
and  dwelt  in  chastity,  to  the  glory  of  Jesus, 
who  consecrated  virginity,  even  Christ  our  Saviour; 
to  whom  be  honour  and  glory  for  ever.     Amen.  135 

XXI. 

JULY  2.    ST.  SWITHHUN,  BISHOP. 

[See  MSS.  Royal  15  C,  vii,  Nero  E.  i,  &c.] 
In  the  days  of  the  noble  King  Eadgar 
when,  by  God's  grace,  Christianity  was  thriving  well 
in  the  English  nation  under  that  same  king, 
God,  by  many  miracles  revealed  4 

Saint  Swithhun,  [showing]  that  he  is  illustrious. 
His  deeds  were  not  known  before  God  Himself  manifested  them, 

121.  crites  (gic).  128.  munuclicre. 

124.  Se  (/or  se).     Jwitig.    wife.  130.  bdc. 

125.  Bunes.    butu.  132,  wif. 

126.  jritig.    haemede.  133.  hjclende. 

127.  aelmessan  vvorhtaii.  'Se(/orse).  134.  drihten  {for  heelend). 


443  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

ne  we  ne  fundon  on  bocum  hu  se  bisceop  leofode 

on  Jjysre  worulde  .  serSan  J?e  he  gewende  to  criste  .  8 

paet  wses  Jjsera  ^  gymeleast  J^e  on  life  hine  cu|3on  . 

'poet  hi  noldon  awritan  his.  weorc  and  drohtnunge 

}jam  towerdum  mannum  tSe  his  mihte  ne  cut5on  . 

ac  god  hsefS  swa  ]?eah  his  lif  geswutelod  .  12 

mid  swutelum  wundrum  and  syllicum  tacnum  . 

Des  swy(5un  wses  bisceop  on  winceastre  . 

swa  |?eah  ofer  hamtun-scire  gesselig  godes  ]?eowa  . 

and  eahta^  bisceopas  wseron  betwux  him  and  sancte^  acSelwolde .   16 

nu  nses  us  his  lif  cutS  swa  swd  w6  ser  cwsedon 

butan  ])cet  he  wses  bebyrged  set  his  bisceop-stole 

be  westan  Jjsere  cyrcan  and  ofer-worht*  sy'StSan  . 

olppcet  his  wundra  geswutelodon  his  gesselcSa  mid  gode  .  20 

prym  gearum  sertSan  Jje  se"  sanct  into  cyrcan  wsere  gebroht 

of  tSsere  stsenenan  Jjryh  j^e  stent  nu  wi(5-innan 

J)am  niwan  geweorce  .  com  se  arwurcSa  swytSun 

to  sumum  gelyfedan  smytSe  .  on  swefne  seteowiende  24 

wurcSlice  geglencged  .  and  tJas  word  him  cwseS  to  . 

Canst  Jju  tSone  preost  }?e  is  gehaten  eadzige  . 

Jje  wses  of  ealdan  mynstre  mid  (Sam  otSrum  preostum  adrsefed 

for  heora  un]?eawum  ]jurh  atSelwold  bisceop  .  28 

Se  smitS  ]5a  andwyrde  J^am  arwurtSan  swytSune  ]jus  . 

Gefyrn  ic  hine  cuSe  leof  .  ac  he  ferde  heonon 

and  ic  nat  to  gewissan  hwser  he  wunacS  nu  . 

pa  cwsetS  eft  se  halga  wer  to  Sam  ealdan  smy'Se  .  32 

Witodlice  he  wunatS  nu  on  wincel-cumbe  ham-fsest  . 

and  ic  tSe  nu  halsige  on  J?3es  hselendes  naman 

pcet  ?Su  him  min  serende  ardlice  abeode  . 

and  sege  him  to  so})an  pcet  switSun  se  bisceop  36 

het  pcet  he  fare  to  aJ?elwolde  bisceope  . 

and  secge  Ipcet  he  ge-openige  him  sylf  mine  byrgene  . 

1-19.  Lost  in  G.  23.  nlwan;  c6m  ;  swiShun. 

20.  swutelodon.     ges£elSa.  24.  smiSe ;  sw^foe ;  -eowigende. 

21.  gearum  ijer-])an.  25,  geglenged;  wdrd;  t<5. 

22.  stEenenan  })ryh ;  nd.  26.  ge-Mten  eadsige. 

*  J>aere,  alt.  to  faera.     *  eahte,  alt.  to  eahta.     ^  Above  ike  line.    *  Leaf  95. 


XXI.    SAINT  SWITHHUN,   BISHOP.  443 

neither  have  we  found  in  books  how  the  bishop  lived 

in  this  world,  before  he  departed  to  Christ.  8 

Such  was  their  carelessness  who  knew  him  in  life 

that  they  would  not  write  down  his  works  and  conversation 

for  future  generations  who  knew  not  his  power ; 

but  God  hath  nevertheless  brought  his  life  to  light  la 

by  manifest  miracles  and  wondrous  signs.,^ 

This  Swithhun  was  bishop  of  Winchester, 

as  it  were  over  Hampshire,  a  blessed  servant  of  God ; 

(there  were  eight  bishops  between  him  and  St.  ^thelwold.)     i6 

Now  as  we  before  said,  his  life  is  not  known  to  us, 

save  that  he  was  buried  at  his  episcopal  see 

to  the  west  of  the  church,  and  afterwards  covered  up, 

until  his  miracles  manifested  his  blessedness  with  GroA.^^^        20 

Three  years  before  the  Saint  was  brought  into  the  church 
out  of  the  stone  coffin  that  standeth  now  within 
the  new  building,  came  the  venerable  Swithhun 
to  a  certain  faithful  smith,  appearing  in  a  vision  34 

worshipfully  apparelled,  and  said  to  him  these  words  ; 
'  Knowest  thou  the  priest  who  is  bight  Eadsige, 
who,  with  the  other  priests,  was  driven  out 
of  the  old  monastery  by  bishop  -^thelwold,  for  their  misconduct  V  28 
The  smith  then  answered  the  venerable  Swithhun  thus, 
'Long  ago  I  knew  him,  sir,  but  he  departed  hence, 
and  I  know  not  for  certain  where  he  dwelleth  now.' 
Then  again  said  the  holy  man  to  the  old  smith ;  33 

'Verily  he  dwelleth  now  settled  at  Winchelcombe, 
and  I  now  adjure  thee  in  the  name  of  Christ 
that  thou  speedily  announce  to  him  my  errand, 
and  tell  him  truly  that  Swithhun  the  bishop  36 

has  commanded  him  to  go  to  bishop  vEthelwold, 
and  say,  that  he  must  himself  open  my  grave 

27.  adraefed.  32,  smiSe. 

28.  lin-.  33.  mi  ;  wfncel- ;  h^m-. 

29.  iir- ;  swiShiine.  34.  nii. 

30.  Ge-fyrn  ;  l^of ;  fdrde.  35.  mln  aerende  ^rdlice  ab^ode. 

31.  ndt;  nii.  36.  swi'Shun. 


444  XXI.    NATALE   SANCTt   SWYDUNI,   EPISCOPI. 

and  mine  hin  gebringe  binnan  Ssere  cyrcan  , 

for  (San  pe  him  is  geti]5od  .  pcet  ic  on  his  timan  40 

beo  mannum  geswutelod  .  And  se  smiS  him  cwoe'S  to  . 

La  leof  .  eadzige  nele  gelyfan  minum  wordum  . 

Da  cwoe(5  se  bisceop  eft  .  Gange  him  to  minre  byrgene  . 

and  ateo  ane  hringan  up  of  Ssere  j^ryh  .  44 

and  gif  seo  hringe  him  folgaS  set  J^am  forman  tige  . 

Jjonne  wat  he  to  sotSan  pcet  ic  \)e  sonde  to  him  . 

Gif  seo  hringe  nele  up  |3urh  his  anes  tige 

|5onne  ne  sceall  he  nates  hwon  J^inre  sage  gelyfan  .  48 

Sege  him  eac  sitSSan  .  pcet  he  sylf  geriht-laece 

his  dseda  and  }?eawas  to  his  drihtnes  willan  . 

and  efste  anmodlice  to  ]5am  ecan  life  . 

Sege  eac  eallum  mannum  pcet  sona  swa  hi  52 

geopeniatS  mine  byrgene  .  pcet  hi  magon  t5ser  findan 

swa  deorwur(5ne  hord^  .  pcet  heora  dyre  gold 

ne  bits  nahte  wurtS  ^  wiS  J^a  fore-ssedan  matSmas  . 

Se  halga  swySun  p&  ferde  fram  Jjam  smiSe  up  .  56 

and  se  smiS  ne  dorste  secgan  ]3as  gesihSe  aenigum  menn  . 

nolde  beon  gesewen  unso?5sagul  boda  . 

Hwset  ?5a  se  halga  wer  hine  eft  gespraec 

and  git  j^ryddan  siSe  .  and  swySe  hine  J)reade  ,  60 

hwi  he  nolde  gehyrsumian  his  hsesum  mid  weorce  . 

Se  smitS  ]?a  set  nextan  eode  swa  tSeah  to  his  byrgene  . 

and  genam  ane  hringan  earhlice  swa  (Seah  . 

and  clypode  to  gode  Jjus  cw3e?5ende  mid  wordum  .  64 

Eala  'Su  drihten  god  ealra  gesceafta  scyppend  . 

geticSa  me  synfullum  pcet  ic  ateo  J^as  hringan 

up  of  tSysum  hlyde  .  gif  se  liS  her  on  innan 

setSe  me  spriec  to  on  swsefne  |jriwa  .  68 

41  •  t6.  48.  sceal ;  ge-lyfan. 

42.  1^  l^of  nele  he  ge-lyfan ;  w6r-  49,  sySSan. 

dum.  50.  dfieda  ;  ]>(5awas. 

43.  h6  (for  him).  51.  sin-;  ^can  life. 

44.  at^o;  pryh.  52.  eiCc;  hf. 
46-  he.  53.  ffndan. 

47.  ^nes.  54.  dedr- ;  h(5rd ;  dyre  g<51d. 

*  hord,  alt.  to  goldhord.  *  Leaf  95,  back. 


XXI.    SAINT  SWITHHUN,   BISHOP.  445 

and  bring  my  bones  within  tlie  church ; 

for  to  him  it  is  vouchsafed  that  in  his  time  40 

I   should    be   made   known   to   men.'     And   the    smiUi    said   to 

him; 
'  Oh,  sir,  Eadsige  will  not  believe  my  words,' 
Then  said  the  bishop  again ;    '  Let  him  go  to  my  grave, 
and  draw  up  out  of  the  coffin  a  ring ;  44 

and  if  the  ring  yield  ^  at  the  first  tug, 

then  shall  he  know  for  a  truth  that  I  have  Sent  thee  to  him. 
If  the  ring  will  not  come  up  at  his  unaided  tug, 
then  shall  he  in  no-wise  believe  thy  saying.  48 

Say  to  him  also  afterwards,  that  he  himself  amend 
his  deeds  and  conduct  according  to  his  Lord's  will, 
and  hasten  with  single  mind  to  the  eternal  life. 
Say  eke  to  all  men  that  so  soon  as  they  52 

open  my  grave,  they  shall  ther€  find 
so  valuable  a  hoard,  that  their  precious  gold 
^all  be  nothing  worth,  compared  with  the  aforesaid  treasures.' 

he  holy  Swithhun  then  vanished  from  the  smith's  [sight],     56 
and  the  smith  durst  not  tell  this  vision  to  any  man, 
not  wishing  to  be  looked  upon  as  an  untruthful  messenger. 
So  then  the  holy  man  spoke  to  him  again, 
and  yet  a  third  time,  and  severely  reproved  him,  60 

because  he  would  not  actively  obey  his  commands. 
Then  however  at  last  the  smith  went  to  his  burial-place, 
and  took  hold,  though  fearfully,  of  a  ring, 

and  cried  to  God,  saying  these  words  j  64 

'  O  Lord  God,  maker  of  all  creatures, 
grant  to  me,  a  sinful  man,  that  I  may  pull  up  this  ring 
out  of  this  lid,  if  he  lieth  here  within, 
who  thrice  spake  unto  me  in  a  dream.'  68 

55.  mMmas.  63.  ge-nam  ^ne. 

56.  swiShun;  {4rde.  64.  cwe'Sende. 
58.  -sagol.  66.  m^ ;  at^o. 

60.  git  J)riddan  ;  swiSe  ;  ])r^ade.  67.  hlide. 

61.  hwl;  hdbsum.  68.  om.  me;  sw<5fiie  J»riwa. 

62.  om.  swa  'Seah. 

*  Lit.  follows  him. 


446  XXI.    NATALE   SANCTI   SWYDUNI,   EPISCOPI. 

He  teah  t5a  \>cet  isen  up  swa  ea?Selice  ^  of  Sam  stane  . 

swilce  hit  on  sande  stode  .  and  he  swySe  Jjses  wundrode  . 

He  tSa  hit  eft  sette  on  Tpcet  ylce  ]?yrl  . 

and  Jjyde  mid  his  Ut  .  and  hit  swa  faeste  eft  stod  .  73 

pcet  nan  man  ne  mihte  hit  J^anon  ateon  . 

pa  eode  se  smicS  ge-egsod  J^anon  . 

and  gemette  on  cypincge  ]3ses  eadzies  mann  . 

and  saede  him  gewislice  hwset  swytSun  him  behead  .  76 

and  bsed  hine  georne  pcet  he  hit  abude  him  . 

He  cwseS  ])CEt  he  hit  wolde  cytSan  his  hlaforde  . 

and  ne  dorste  swa  tSeah  hit  secgan  set  fruman  . 

serj^an  tSe  he  bej^ohte  pcet  him  Searflic  naere  80 

pcet  he  tSses  halgan  hsese  forhule  his  hlaforde  , 

ssede  ])&  be  ende-byrdnysse  hwset  swytSun  him  bebead  . 

|?a  onscunode  se  eadsige  atSelwold  Jjone  bisceop 

and  ealle  ?5a  munecas  J)e  on  Sam  mynstre  wseron  .  84 

for  J)3ere  ut-drsefe  Jse  he  gedyde  witS  hi  . 

and  nolde  gehyran  Jjses  halgan  bebod  . 

J3eah  t5e  se  sanct  wsere  gesib  him  for  worulde  . 

He  gebeah  swa  J^eah  binnan  twam  gearum  88 

to  Jiam  ylcan  mynstre  and  munuc  wearcS  Jjurh  god  . 

and  Tpsdr  wunode  o^oet  he  gewdt  of  life  . 

Geblsetsod  is  se  ealmihtiga  god  ^  pe  ge-eadmed  Ipone  modigan  . 

^  and  Sa  eadmodan  ahsefS  to  healicum  ge?SincJ?um  .  92 

and  gerihtlaecS  Ipa,  synfuUan  .  and  symle  hylt  tSa  godan 

\>e  on  hine  hihtaS  forSan  J^e  he  heelend  is  . 

Eft  woes  sum  earm  ceorl  egeslicc  gehoferod  . 

and  (Searle  gebiged  ]3urh  Sone  bradan  hofor  .  96 

|?am  weart5  geswutelod  on  swefne  gewislice  . 

\)cet  he  sceolde  gefeccan  set  swySunes  byrgene 

69.  t^ah  ;  upp ;  st^ne.  78.  wolde  hit. 

70.  s^nde  stdde ;  swiSe.  80.  ter-Jan. 

72.  fyde;  stdd.  81.  haese  for-h£ele ;  hUforde. 

73.  n^nmann;  at^on.  82.  saede;  swiShun;  be-Wad. 

74.  eode.  85.  ut-drsefe. 

75.  ge-mc^tte  ;  cypinge  ;  eadsiges.  86.  gehyran. 

76.  ssede;  swi^hun;  be-be^d.  87.  ge-sybb. 

'  Here  up  is  wrongly  repeated.        *  Above  the  line.        '  Leaf  96. 


XXI.     SAINT    SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  447 

Thereupon  he  drew  the  iron  out  of  the  stone  as  easily 

as  if  it  had  stood  in  sand,  and  greatly  wondered  thereat. 

Afterward  he  replaced  it  in  the  same  hole, 

and  pressed  it  with  his  foot,  and  it  again  stood  so  fast  72 

that  no  man  was  able  to  draw  it  therefrom. 

Then  went  the  smith  awestricken  thence, 

and  in  the  market-place  met  a  serf  of  this  Eadsige, 

and  told  him  exactly  what  Swithhun  bade  him,  76 

and  earnestly  prayed  him  to  report  it  to  him. 

He  said  that  he  would  make  it  known  to  his  lord, 

but  however  he  durst  not  tell  it  at  first, 

until  he  bethought  him  that  it  would  not  be  well  for  him      80 

if  he  hid  from  his  lord  the  saint's  behest. 

Then  he  told  him  in  order  what  Swithhun  had  enjoined  him. 

At  that  time  this  Eadsige  shunned  bishop  -^thelwold 

and  all  the  monks  who  were  in  the  minster  84 

because  of  the  ejection  that  he  had  made  regarding  them, 

and  would  not  obey  the  saint's  command, 

though  the  saint  was  of  worldly  kindred  to  him. 

He  retreated  however  within  two  years  88 

to  that  same  monastery,  and  became  a  monk  through  (the  grace 

of)  God, 
and  there  continued  till  he  departed  this  life. 
Blessed  is  the  Almighty  God,  Who  humbleth  the  proud, 
and  exalteth  the  humble  to  high  estate,  9a 

and  con-ecteth  the  sinful,  and  ever  preserveth  the  good 
who  hope  in  Him,  forasmuch  as  He  is  the  Saviour. 

Again,  there  was  a  certain  poor  churl,  awfully  humpbacked, 
and  painfully  bowed  together  in  consequence  of  the  broad  hump.  96 
To  him  was  certainly  revealed  in  a  dream, 
that  he  should  obtain  at  Swithhun's  sepulchre 

88.  ge-b^ah ;  g^arum.  94.  hihtaS   (alt.   to  gehihtaS)   for 

90.  life.  ]»am. 

91.  ge-bletsod;      selmihtiga;     om.  95.  c^orl. 

god  ;   ge-ea'5met  pa  mddigan.  96.  ))^arle ;  br^dan.    . 

92.  ^admodan  ahef15 ;  healicum  ge-  97.  sw^fne. 
J/ing})um.  98.  swiShunes. 

93.  g6dan. 


448  XXI.    NATALE  SANCTI   SWYDUNI,   EPISCOPI. 

his  lichaman  hsele  .  and  Jjsere  alefednysse  . 

He  aras  Sa  on  mergen  micclum  fsegnigende  .  loo 

and  mid  twam  criccum  creap  him  to  wynceastre  . 

and  gesohte  tSone  sanct  swa  swa  him  gesaed  wses  . 

biddende  his  haile  gebigdum  cneowum  . 

He  wearS  Jja  geheeled  J)urh  Jjone  halgau  bisceop  .  104 

swa  Tpcet  nses  gesyne  sytSSan  on  his  hricge  . 

hwser  se  hofor  stode  pe  hine  gehefegode  o^pcet . 

pa  nyston  ]5a  munecas  be  tSam  mteran  halgan  . 

and  wendon  pcet  sum  oSer  halga  gehselde  jsone  mann  .  108 

ac  se  ceorl  ssede  poet  swytJun  hine  gehselde  . 

fortSan  pQ  he  sylf  wiste  gewissost  be  Sam  . 

Sum  wer  wees  geuntrumod  swit5e  yfelum  broce  . 

swa  post  he  earfo'Slice  J?a  eagan  undyde  .  ill 

and  uneacSe  mihte  senig  word  gecwe'San  . 

ac  laeg  swa  ge-ancsumod  orwene  his  lifes  . 

Da  woldon  his  freond  ealle  hine  ferian  to  niwan  mynstre 

to  psim  halgan  iudoce  .  poet  he  him  haele  forgeafe  .  u6 

ac  him  saede  sum  man  poet  him  selra  wsere 

poet  hi  to  ealdan  mynstre  Jjone  adligan  feredon 

to  swySunes  byrgene  .  and  hi  dydon  swa  sona  . 

Hi  wacodon  tSa  pa.  niht  witS  pB.  byrgene  mid  him  .  lao 

biddende  ]3one  selmihtigan  god  .  poet  he  Sam  adligan  menn 

his  hsele  forgeafe  .  ]3urh  ]5one  halgan  swytJun  . 

Se  untruma  eac  wacode  d^pcet  hit  wolde  dagian  . 

J)a  weartS  he  on  slsepe  .  and  seo  wur'SfulIe^  byrgen  124 

|38es  cSe  him  eallum  Jsuhte  eall  bifigende  wses  . 

and  pom.  adlian  Jjuhte  swylce  man  his  senne  sc© 

of  Sam  f6t  him  atuge  ^  and  he  fserlice  awoc  . 

He  wses  Sa  gehseled  ]3urh  tSone  halgan  swySun  .  i?3 

99.  haele.  io6.  stdde;  ge-hefgode. 

100.  ar^s.  107.  mteran. 

10 1.  creap;  win-.  108.  wt^ndon;  ge-haelde. 

102.  ge-sdhte;  ge-S£ed,  109.  c^orl    stede ;     swiShun ;     ge- 

103.  haele  ;  ge-bigeduin.  hcelde. 

104.  ge-hjieled.  110.  for  J^am. 

105.  sw^;  ge-syne.  iil.  ge-iin-. 

*  Final  a,  alt.  to  e.  *  Leaf  96,  back. 


XXI.    SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  449 

his  bodily  health,  and  [recovery  from]  his  crippledness. 

He  arose  then  in  the  morning,  greatly  rejoicing,  loo 

and  with  two  crutches  crept  to  Winchester, 

and  sought  the  saint  even  as  it  was  told  him,    . 

praying  for  his  health  on  bended  knees. 

Whereupon  he  was  healed  by  the  holy  bishop,  104 

BO  that  thereafter  it  could  not  be  seen  on  his  back 

where  the  hump  had  stood  that  had  oppressed  him  till  then. 

At  that  time  the  monks  knew  not  about  the  great  saint, 

and  they  weened  that  some  other  saint  had  healed  the  man,    108 

but  the  churl  said  that  Swithhun  had  healed  him, 

because  he  himself  knew  the  most  certainly  about  the  matter. 

A  certain  man  was  afflicted  with  a  very  bad  disease, 
so  that  he  could  with  difficulty  open  his  eyes,  112 

and  could  hardly  utter  a  single  word, 
but  lay  thus  tormented,  despairing  of  his  life. 
Then  all  his  friends  wished  to  carry  him  to  the  new  minster, 
to  Saint  Judoc,  that  he  might  give  him  health;  116 

but  some  one  told  them  that  it  would  be  better  for  them 
to  take  the  sick  man  to  the  old  minster 
to  Swithhun's  grave,  and  thereupon  they  did  so. 
Then  that  night  they  kept  vigil  at  the  grave  with  him,         120 
praying  Almighty  God  that  He  would  grant 
to  the  sick  man  his  health,  through  Saint  Swithhun. 
The  infirm  man  also  watched  until  it  was  becoming  day, 
then  he  fell  asleep,  and  the  worshipful  tomb,  124 

as  it  seemed  to  them  all,  was  all  rocking, 
and  to  the  sick  man  it  seemed  as  if  some  one  was  dragging 
one  of  his  shoes  off  his  foot ;    and  he  suddenly  awoke. 
He  was  then  healed  by  the  holy  Swithhun.  128 

112.  sw^;  e%an.  121.  h^;  adligan. 

113.  Tin-;  aenig  w6rd.  i?.2.  hable  for-ge^fe;  swiSliun. 

114.  lifes.  123.  Tin-;  eia. 

115.  frynd;  nfwan.  124.  h^ ;  sliipe. 

116.  iuddce;  hiile  for-gecife.  126.  ddligan ;  swilce;  scio. 

117.  ssede;  mann ;  selre.  127.  om.  him;  attige;  faerlice. 

118.  ddligan.  128.  ge-hdeled ;  swiShun. 


119.  switShiines;  swii  dydon. 


29 


450  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

and  man  sohte  J?one  sco  swySe  geornlice  . 

ac  hine  ne  mihte  nan  man  gemetan  ^  jjser  sefre  . 

and  hi  gewendan  J^a  hdm  mid  ]?am  gehseledan  menn  . 

paer  wurdon  gehselede  £et  Ssere  halgan  byrgene  132 

eahta  untrurae  menn  .  sertSan  pe  he  of  tSsere  byrgene 

up  genumen  wsere  .  wundorlice  Jjurh  god  . 

Eadgar  cyning  Jja  sefter  Sysum  tacnum 

wolde  pcet  se  halga  war  wurde  up  gedon  .  136 

and  sprsec  hit  to  atSelwolde  J?am  arwurcSan  bisceope  . 

"pcet  he  hine  up  adyde  mid  arwurSuysse  . 

pa  se  bisceop  aSelwold  mid  abbodura  and  munecum  . 

dyde  up  jjone  sanct  mid  sange  wurtSlice  .  140 

and  bseron  into  cyrcan  sancte  petres  huse  . 

]j8er  he  stend  mid  wurSmynte  and  wundra  gefrematS  . 

pser  wurdon  gehselede  J)urh  cSone  halgan  wer  . 

feower  wan-hale  menn  binnan  (Srym  dagum  .  144 

and  geond  fif  monJ)as  feawa  daga  wseron 

Ipcet  Sser  nseron  geheelede  .  huru  (Sry  untrume  . 

hwilon  fif  ,  oSSe  syx  .  seofon  otJcSe  eahta  . 

tyn  ot5(Se  twelf  .  syxtyne  .  ocS'Se  eahtatyne  .  148 

binnon  tyn  dagum  Jjser  wurdon  twa  hund  manna  gehselede  . 

and  swa  fela  binnan  twelf  monSum  p(st  man  hi  getellan  ne  mihte  . 

Se  lictun  Iseg  afylled  mid  alefedum  mannum  . 

swa  "pcet  man  eat5e  ne  mihte  pcet  mynster  gesecan  .  152 

and  ]?a  ealle  wurdon  swa  wundorlice  geligelede 

binnan  feawa  dagum  .  pcet  man  pner  findan  ne  mihte 

fif  unhale  menn  of  J?am  micclan  heape  . 

On  Jjam  dagum  wseron  on  wihtlande  J^reo  wif .  156 

pa.  twa  wseron  blinde  geond  nigon  geara  fee  . 

and  pcet  jsrydde  ne  geseah  psere  sunnan  leoht  nsefre  . 

129.  s6hte;  sceo  swiSe.  137.  ^r-. 

130.  n^n  maun  ge-m^tan.  138.  upp;  dv. 

131.  gewendon;  Mm ;  ge-ha;ledan.  141,  bseron;  huse, 

132.  ge-hffilede.  142.  stent. 

133.  tin-;  aer  fiam.  143.  ge-haelede, 

135.  t^num.  144.  wann-h^le;  prim. 

^  gemeten,  alt.  to  gemetan. 


XXI.    SAINT   SWITHHUN,   BISHOP.  451 

Tliey  sought  very  carefully  for  the  shoe, 

but  no  man  was  ever  able  to  find  it  there. 

So  tliey  returned  home  with  the  man  that  had  been  healed. 

There  were  healed  there,  at  the  holy  tomb,  132 

eight  sick  men,  miraculously,  by  the  power  of  God, 

before  that  he  was  taken  up  out  of  the  tomb. 

After  these  signs  King  Eadgar  then 
desired  that  the  holy  man  should  be  exhumed,  136 

and  ^aid  to  the  venerable  bishop  ^Ethelwold 
that  he  should  translate  him  with  great  pomp. 
Then  bishop  JEthelwold,  with  abbots  and  monks, 
solemnly  took  up  the  saint  with  chanting,  140 

and  bore  him  into  the  church,  St.  Peter's  house. 
There  he  abideth  in  honour  and  worketh  miracles. 
Then  there  were  healed,  by  the  holy  man, 

four  sick  men  within  three  days ;  144 

and  during  five  months  there  were  few  days 
when  there  were  not  healed  at  least  three  sick  persons  ; 
sometimes  five  or  six,  or  seven  or  eight, 

ten  or  twelve,  sixteen  or  eighteen.  148 

Within  ten  days  two  hundred  men  were  healed, 
and   so   many  within  twelve  months  that  no   man   could   count 

them. 
The  burial-ground  lay  filled  with  crippled  folk, 
so  that  people  could  hardly  get  into  the  minster  ;  152 

and  they  were  all  so  miraculously  healed 
within  a  few  days,  that  one  could  not  find  there 
five  unsound  men  out  of  that  great  crowd. 

In  those  days  there  were  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  three  women,   1.^6 
two  of  them  had  been  blind  for  the  space  of  nine  years, 
and  the  third  had  never  seen  the  sun's  light. 

145.  geond  fif ;  fe:iwa.  152.  swii;  ge-s^can. 

146.  ])ry  lin-.  153.  ge-hselede. 

147.  fif.  154.  fc-iwa ;  ffndan. 

1 48.  tyn.  155.  f  if  tin-;  micclum  he^pe. 

149.  Binnan;  ge-htelede.  156.  \it6o. 

150.  nan  man  hf.  157.  twii;  bllnde;  geJCra  fie. 

151.  llctun.  158.  ))ridde. 

29-2 


452  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

Hi  begeaton  pa.  earfoSlice  him^  senne  latteow 

senne  dumbne  cnapan  and  comon  to  J?am  halgan  .  i6o 

and  ane  niht  Jjser  wacodon  and  wurdon  gehselede  . 

-ge  ?5a  blindan  wlf  ge  se  dumba  latteow  . 

pa  ssede  se  cnapa  j^am  cyrcwerde  pcet  . 

and  cwoe(S  \)cet  he  nsefre  ser  naht  cweSan  ne  mihte  .  164 

and  boed  \>cet  hi  sungoa  ]5one  gesettan  lof-sang  . 

On  ]?8ere  ylcan  tide  waes  sum  wybi  gehseft  to  swinglum 

for  swySe  lytlan  gylte  .  and  laeg  on  hseftnedum 

\>cet  heo  hetelice  wsere  ]39es  on  mergen  beswungen  .  168 

Jja  wacode  heo  ealle  tSa  niht  and  mid  wope   clypode 

to  tSam  halgan  swySune  \)cet  he  hulpe  hire  earmre  . 

and  fram  |5am  re'Sum  swinglum  hi  ^  ahredde  |?urh  god  . 

Mid  J?am  ]7e  hit  dagode  and  man  drihtnes  lofsang  ongan  .      172 

Jja  feollan  ?Sa  fot-copsas  fserlice  hire  fram  . 

and  heo  arn  to  cyrcan  to  |5am  arwur'San  halgan 

gebundenum  handum  swa  swa  se  halga  wolde  . 

and  se  hlaford  com  sefter  and  alysde  hire  handa  .  176 

and  gefreode  hi  sona  for  swySunes  wurtSmynte  . 

Sum  ]5egn  Iseg  alefed  lange  .  on  paralisyn  . 

and  ne  mihte  of  his  bedde  for  manegum  gearum  . 

pa  cwsetJ  he  \)oet'^  he^  wolde  to  wynceastre  sySian  180 

huru  on  his  hors-bsere  .  and  biddan  his  haele  . 

Mid  ]3am  j?e  he  Jsis  cwaeS  to  his  cnihtum  and  freondum  , 

J3a  wearS  he  gehseled  and  gewende  swa  |?eah    • 

to  Jjam  halgan  sancte  .  siSigende  on  fotum  184 

fyrmest  on  ]?am  flocce  on  ealre  Jjsere  fare  . 

and  Sancode  Jjam  halgan  his  hsele  geornlice  . 

Fif  and  twentig  manna  myslice  ge-untrume 

comon  to  J^am  halgan  heora  hsele  biddende  .  188 

sume  wseron  blinde  .  sume  wseron  healte  . 

sume  eac  deafe  .  and  dumbe  eac  sume  . 


159.  be-ge^ton.  161.  ^ne ;  ge-haelede. 

160.  diimbne.  162,  blindan;  diimba. 

'  Above  the  line.  ^  Leaf  97. 


XXI.     SAINT    SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  453 

They  got  for  themselves  as  guide,  with  some  difficulty, 

a  dumb  boy,  and  they  came  to  the   saint,  i6o 

and  watched  there  for  one  night,  and  were  healed, 

both  the  blind  women  and  the  dumb  guide. 

Then  the  boy  told  it  to  the  sacristan, 

and  said,  that  he  had  never  before  been  able  to  speak,  164 

praying  that  they  would  sing  the  appointed  hymn  of  praise. 

About  the  same  time  a  certain  bondwoman  was  caught  to  be 
flogged 
for  some  very  slight  fault,  and  lay  in  custody 
to  be  severely  flogged  for  it  in  the  morning.  168 

Then  the  whole  night  she  kept  awake,  and  with  weeping  cried 
to  the  holy  Swithhun,  that  he  would  help  her,  a  poor  wretch, 
and   through    [the  power  of]    God  would   deliver   her   from   the 

cruel  stripes. 
When  it  dawned,  and  they  began  to  sing  lauds,  172 

then  suddenly  the  fetters  round  her  feet  fell  from  her, 
and  she  ran  to  the  church  to  the  blessed  saint, 
with  bound  hands,  as  the  saint  willed, 

and  her  lord  came  after  her  and  loosed  her  hands,  176 

and  freed  her  at  once  for  the  honour  of  Saint  Swithhun. 

A  certain  thane  lay  a  long  time  crippled  by  paralysis, 
and  could  not  move  from  his  bed  for  many  years. 
Then  said  he  that  he  desired  to  journey  to  Winchester  180 

if  only  in  his  horse-litter,  and  pray  for  his  healing. 
While  he  was  saying  this  to  his  servants  and  friends, 
he  was  cured;  but  nevertheless  he  wended 

to  the  holy  saint,  travelling  on  his  feet,  184 

foremost  in  that  company  during  the  whole  journey, 
and  earnestly  thanked  the  saint  for  his'  recovery. 
Five  and  twenty  men,  diversely  afflicted, 

came  to  the  saint,  imploring  their  health;  188 

some  were  blind,  and  some  were  halt, 
some  also  deaf,  and  some  dumb, 

163.  sade.     [G.  omits  from  cnapa  in  1.  163  to  sege  me  in  1.  378.] 


454  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

and  hi  ealle  wurdon  anes  daeges  gehaelede 

J5urh  ]7ses  halgan  Singunge  .  and  liim  ham  gewendon  .  192 

Sum  pegn  waes  on  engla  lande  on  sehtum  swy'Se  welig  . 

se  wear's  fserlice  blind  .  ^a  ferde  he  to  rome  . 

wolde  his  haele  biddan  ,  set  Jjam  halgum  apostolum  . 

He  wunode  pa,  on  rome  and  ne  wearS  gehseled  .  196 

feower  gear  fuUi^ce  .  and  befran  pa  be  swySune 

hwylce  wundra  he  worhte  sySSan  he  gewende  ]?anon  . 

he  efste  p-a.  swytJe  and  to  his  earde  gewende  . 

and  com  to  ]5am  halgan  were  and  weartS  gehaeled  ]?3er  .  200 

and  ham  gewende  mid  halre  gesih^e  . 

Sum  wer  waes  eac  blind  wel  seofon  gear  fulle  . 

se  hsefde  senne  latteow  pe  hine  Isedde  gehwider  . 

tSa  sume  dseg  code  he  swa  swa  he  oft  dyde  .  204 

and  se  latteow  weartS  gebolgen  and  Jjone  blindan  forlet  . 

arn  him  aweg  .  and  se  o(5er  nyste 

hu  he  ham  come  .  ac  clypode  to  gode 

mid  innewerdre  heortan  .  and  mid  angsumnysse  cwaecS  .  208 

Eala  ]?u  mihtiga  drihten  manna  and  engla  . 

geseoh  mine  yrmSe  ic  geseon  ne  mseg  . 

and  min  lytSra  latteow  forlet  me  J?us  senne  . 

Gemiltsa  me  drihten  Jjurh  tSone  mseran  swySun  .  212 

and  forgif  me  gesihtSe  .  for  cSses  sanctes  geearnungum  . 

Eft  he  clypode  }?us  .  and  cwcfitS  to  'Sam  halgan  . 

Eala  pn  milda  bisceop  pe  manega  wundra  of  cumacS 

J?urh  ]?one  lifigendan  god  .  leof  ic  pe  bidde  216 

pcef  ]?u  me  gej^ingie  to  paia  mihtigan  hselende  . 

ic  gelyfe  pcef  he  wille  gewislice  pe  ti'Sian  . 

He  wear's  }3a  gehgeled  .  and  hsefde  his  gesihSe  . 

and  ham  eode  blySe  butan  latteowe  ana  220 

Se  Se  lytle  ser  })anon  wses  gelaed  Jjurh  Sone  oj^erne  . 

and  his  magas  Sancodon  mycclum  Saes  gode  . 

Ajselwold  Jja  se  arwurSa  and  se  eadiga  bisceop  . 

I^e  on  'Sam  dagum  waes  on  winceastre  bisceop  .  224, 

'  Leaf  97,  back. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  455 

and  they  all  were  healed  in  one  day 

through  the  saint's  intercession,  and  went  their  way  home.     192 

There  was  a  certain  thane  in  England,  very  rich  in  possessions, 

who  became  suddenly  blind ;    then  journeyed  he  to  Rome, 

desiring  to  pray  for  his  cure  from  the  holy  Apostles, 

he  dwelt  at  Rome,  but  was  not  cured,  196 

for  four  full  years ;    then  he  heard  of  Saint  Swithhun, 

what  miracles  he  had  wrought  since  he  [the  thane]  had  journeyed 

thence ; 
then  made  he  much  haste,  and  returned  to  his  own  country, 
and  came  to  the  holy  man,  and  was  there  healed,  200 

and  returned  home  with  perfect  sight. 

Another  man  was  also  blind  for  seven  full  years; 
he  had  a  guide  who  led  him  everywhere. 

One  day  he  went  out  as  he  often  did,  204 

and  the  guide  became  angry,  and  left  the  blind  man, 
and  ran  away,  and  the  other  knew  not 
how  he  should  come  home,  but  cried  to  God 
from  his  inmost  heart,  and  with  anguish  said,  208 

'  Oh  Thou  mighty  Lord  of  men  and  angels, 
look  upon  my  misery ;    I  cannot  see ; 
and  my  wicked  guide  hath  left  me  thus  alone. 
Have   pity   on   me.   Lord,    through    the    [intercession  of]    great 
Swithhun,  212 

and  give  me  sight  for  the  saint's  merits.' 
Again  he  cried  thus,  and  said  to  the  saint, 
*  Oh  thou  mild  bishop,  from  whom  come  often  many  miracles 
through  the  living  God;   I  pray  thee,  master,  a  16 

to  intercede  for  me  with  the  mighty  Saviour, 
I  believe  that  He  will  certainly  grant  thee'  [thy  petition]. 
"Whereupon  he  was  made  whole,  and  had  his  sight, 
and  without  a  guide  he  blithely  went  home  alone,  220 

who  a  little  time  before  was  led  by  another ; 
and  his  kinsmen  greatly  thanked  God  for  this. 

Then  ^Ethelwold,  the  venerable  and  blessed  bishop, 
who  in  those  days  was  bishop  of  Winchester,  224 


456  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

bead  his  munecum  eallum  pe  on  Sam  mynstre  wunodon  . 

pcet  hi  ealle  eodon  eiidemes  to  cyrcan  . 

and  mid  sange  heredon  pses  sanctes  mser'Sa  . 

and  god  mgersodon  swa  on  |3am  maeran  balgan  .  228 

swa  oft  swa  senig  wan-hal  mann  wurde  gehseled  . 

pa  dydon  hi  sona  swa  .  and  sungon  Jjone  lofsang  . 

d^pcet  heora  ^  lacSode  eallum  pcet  hi  swa  oft  arisan  . 

hwilon  }?rywa  on  niht  .  hwilon  feower  sy'Sum  232 

to  singenne  J?one  lofsang  ponne  hi  slapan  sceoldon  . 

'^and  forleton  ealle  endemes  j5one  sang  . 

forcSam  pe  se  bisceop  wses  bysig  mid  J?am  cynincge  . 

and  nyste  butan  hi  sungon  ]?one  lof-sang  forS  on  .  236 

Hwset  c5a  se  halga  swySun  sylf  com  on  swefne 

wundorlice  geglencged  to  sumum  godan  menu  .  and  cwsetS  . 

Gang  nu  to  ealdan  mynstre  .  and  j^am  munecum  sege 

pcet  gode  swytSe  oflicatS  heora  ceorung  .  and  slaewtS  .  240 

pcet  hi  daeg-hwamlice  geseotS  drihtnes  wundra  mid  him  . 

and  hi  nellaS  herian  }?one  hselend  mid  sange  . 

swa  swa  se  bisceop  behead  ]?am  gebro'Srum  to  donne  . 

and  sege  gif  hi  nellacS  Jjone  sang  gelsestan  .  244 

|3onne  geswica'S  eac  sona  'Sa  wundra  . 

and  gif  hi  jjone  lofsang  willa'S  set  jjam  wundrum  singan  . 

swa  oft  swa  wanhale  menn  J3ser  wurcSacS  gerihte  . 

]3onne  wurSa]?  mid  him  wundra  swa  fela  .  248 

pcet  nan  man  ne  mseg  gemunan  on  life  . 

pcet  senig  man  gesawe  swylce  wundra  ahwser  . 

pa  awsecnode  se  wer  of  pam  wynsuman  slaepe  . 

and  swySe  be-sargode  pcet  he  geseon  ne  moste  252 

ne  nan  Isencg  brucan  j^aes  beorhtan  leohtes  . 

pe  he  mid  swiSune  hsefde  t5a  ^  gesewen  . 

He  aras  swaSeah  and  swiSe  hratSe  ferde 

to  aj^elwolde  bisceope  •  and  him  eall  J)is  ssede  .  256 

A]?elwold  ]5a  asende  sona  to  }3am  munecum 

of  cyninges  hyrede  .  and  cwce'S  pcet  hi  sceoldon 

})one  lof-sang  singan  .  swa  swa  he  ge-set  htefde  . 

^  him,  alt.  to  heom.  ^  Leaf  98.  ^  Above  the  line. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  457 

batle  all  his  monks  who  dwelt  in  the  monastery, 

that  they  should  all  go  in  procession  to  church, 

and  with  hymns  praise  the  merits  of  the  saint, 

and  so  magnify  God,  because  of  the  great  saint,  228 

as  often  as  any  sick  man  should  be  healed. 

Then  forthwith  they  did  so,  and  sang  the  Te  Deum, 

until  they  all  loathed  to  arise  so  often, 

sometimes  three,  and  sometimes  four  times  in  a  night,  232 

to  sing  the  Te  Deum,  when  they  wanted  to  sleep  ; 

and  at  last  they  all  left  off  the  chanting, 

because  the  bishop  was  busy  with  the  king, 

and  knew  not  but  that  they  sang  the  Te  Deum  continually.  236 

Behold  then,  the  holy  Swithhun  himself  came  in  a  vision, 

wondrously  adorned,  to  a  certain  good  man,  and  said, 

'  Go  now  to  the  Old  Minster,  and  say  to  the  monks, 

that  God  greatly  misliketh  their  murmuring  and  sloth,  240 

in  that  they  daily  see  God's  wonders  amongst  them, 

and  yet  they  will  not  praise  Christ  with  chanting 

even  as  the  bishop  bade  the  brethren  do ; 

and  say,  "  if  they  will  not  perform  the  hymn,  244 

straightway  the  miracles  shall  soon  cease ; 

and  if  they  will  sing  the  Te  Deum  at  the  miracles, 

as  often  as  sick  men  shall  there  be  made  whole, 

then  shall  so  many  miracles  be  done  amongst  them,  248 

that  no  man  shall  be  able  to  remember  in  his  lifetime 

that  anyone  hath  seen  such  miracles  anywhere." ' 

Then  the  man  awoke  out  of  that  winsome  sleep, 

and  greatly  lamented  that  he  could  not  see,  252 

nor  any  longer  enjoy  the  briglit  light 

which  he  had  seen  around  Swithhun. 

He  arose  nevertheless,  and  very  quickly  went 

to  bishop  ^thelwold,  and  told  him  all  this ;  256 

iEthelwold  thereupon  sent  immediately  to  the  monks, 

from  the  king's  court,  and.  bade  that  they  should 

sing  the  Te  Deum,  even  as  he  had  appointed, 


458  XXI.    NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,   EPISCOPI. 

and  se  Ipe  hit  forsawe  .  sceolde  hit  mid  faestene  260 

seofon  niht  on  An  swarlice  gebetan  . 

Hi  hit  heoldon  pa,  sytSSan  symle  on  ge-wunon  . 

swa  swa  we  gesawon  sylfe  for  oft . 

and  ]?one  sang  we  sungon  unseldon  mid  heom^  .  264 

Sum  wer  wses  betogen  past  he  wsere  on  stale  . 

wses  swa(5eah  unscyldig  .  and  hine  man  sona  gelsehte 

and  sefter  woruld-dome  dydon  him  ut  j?a  eagan  . 

and  his  earan  forcurfon  .  J^a  arn  him  pcet  blod  268 

into  Jjam  heafde  .  past  he  gehyran  ne  mihte  . 

pa  wees  he  seofon  montSas  wunigende  swa  ^  blind  . 

and  his  hlyst  nsefde  .  oppcet  he  mid  geleafan  ferde 

to  J?am  halgan  swySune  .  and  gesohte  his  ban  272 

biddende  Jjone  halgan  pcet  he  his  bene  gehyrde  . 

and  him  huru  geearnode  pcet  he  gehyran  mihte 

for]5an  <5e  he  ne  gelyfde  pcet  he  onliht  wurde  . 

and  cwseS  pcet  he  wurde  wolice  swa  getucod  .  276 

pa  weartS  godes  wundor  geworht  an  J^am  menn 

]?urh  swy(5unes  ]?ingunge  pcet  he  geseah  beorhte 

ansundum  eagum  .  ]3eah  'Se  hi  ser  wseron  ut  adyde 

of  pam  eah-hringum  .  and  se  oSer  asppel  was  ge-emtigod  .    280 

and  se  otSer  hangode  gehal  set  his  hleore  . 

Him  wses  eac  forgifen  pcet  he  wel  mihte  gehyran  . 

se  ?Se  ser  nsefde  ne  eagan  .  ne  hlyst . 

Is  swa  Seah  to  witenne  pcet  we  ne  moton  us  gebiddan  .  284 

swa  to  godes  halgum  swa  swa  to  gode  sylfum  . 

forSan  pe  he  is  ana  god  ofer  ealle  ]?incg  . 

Ac  we  sceolon  biddan  soSlice  fia  halgan  . 

poet  hi  us  J)ingion  to  J)am  ]3rym-wealdendum  gode  .  288 

sej)e  is  heora  hlaford  .  pcet  he  helpe  us  . 

Hwilon  wacodon  menn  swa  swa  hit  gewunelic  is 

ofer  an  dead  lie  .  and  tSser  wses  sum  dysig  mann 

plegol  ungemetlice  .  and  to  J^am  mannum  cwseS  292 

swylce  for  plegan  .  pcet  he  swytSun  wsere  . 

Ge  magon  to  soSum  witan  pcet  ic  swycSun  eom 

*  him,  alt.  to  heom.  '^  Leaf  98,  back. 


XXI.    SAINT   SWITHHUN,   BISHOP.  459 

and  he  that  neglected  it  should  heavily  atone  for  it  260 

by  fasting  for  seven  days  continuously. 

Thenceforth  they  ever  observed  this  custom, 

as  we  ourselves  have  very  often  seen, 

and  have  not  seldom  sung  this  hymn  with  them.  264 

A  certain  man  was  accused  of  stealing, 
who  however  was  innocent,  and  they  at  once  seized  him, 
and  according  to  the  sentence,  put  out  his  eyes, 
and  cut  off  his  eai's ;   then  the  blood  ran  268 

into  his  head,  so  that  he  could  not  hear ; 
then  for  seven  months  he  thus  continued  blind, 
and  without  his  hearing,  until  he  went  in  faith 
to  the  holy  Swithhun,  and  sought  his  bones,  273 

praying  the  saint  that  he  would  hear  his  petition, 
and  at  least  grant  that  he  might  hear, 
because  he  did  not  believe  that  he  could  ever  again  see; 
and  said  that  he  had  been  unjustly  so  punished.  276 

Then  God's  wonder  was  wrought  in  that  man 
through  Swithhun's  intercession,  that  he  saw  clearly 
with  perfect  eyes,  though  they  had  before  been  thrust  out 
of  the  eye-rings  [sockets]  and  one  apple  [ball]  was  removed,      280 
and  the  other  hung  down  whole,  at  his  cheek. 
It  was  also  granted  him  that  he  could  hear  well, 
he  who  formerly  had  neither  eyes  nor  hearing. 
Nevertheless  it  is  to  wit,  that  we  must  not  pray  284 

to  God's  Saints  as  to  God  Himself, 
because  He  alone  is  God,  and  above  all  things; 
but  we  should  truly  pray  the  saints 

to  intercede  for  us  with  the  All-ruling  God,  288 

^.  Who  is  their  Lord,  that  He  may  help  us. 
Once  men  were  keeping  vigil  by  a  corpse, 
as  is  customary,  and  there  was  a  foolish  man, 
jesting  unmeetly,  who  said  to  the  men,  292 

as  if  in  sport,  that  he  was  Swithhun. 
'  Ye  may  know  in  sooth  that  I  am  Swithhun 


460  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

se  cSe  wundra  wyrc^  .  and  ic  wille  pcet  ge  beran 

eower  leoht  to  me  .  and  licga'S  on  cneowum  396 

and  ic  eow  forgife  pcet  pcet  ge  gyrnende  beotS  . 

He  woffode  ta.  swa  lange  mid  wordum  dyslice  . 

o^pcet  he  feoll  geswogen  swylce  he  sawl-leas  wsere  . 

and  hine  man  bser  ham  to  his  baedde  sona  .  300 

and  he  Iseg  swa  lange  his  lifes  orwene  . 

His  magas  (Sa  set  nextan  J)one  mann  feredon 

to  J5am  halgan  swijjune  .  and  he  sylf  andette 

his  dyslican  word  pe  he  dyrstiglice  spraec  .  304 

and  bsed  him  forgifnysse  .  and  he  weartS  J)a  gehseled  . 

swd  pcet  he  hal  eode  ham  mid  his  magum  . 

Is  eac  to  witenne  pcet  menu  unwislice  do5 

J3a  (Se  dwollice  plegaS  set  deadra  man%a  lice  .  308 

and  selce  fulnysse  J?ser  for(S-teo(5  mid  plegan  . 

J?onne  hi  sceoldon  swycSor  be-sargian  Jjone  deadan  . 

and  ondraedan  him  sylfum  pass  deacSes  tocyme  . 

and  biddan  for  his  sawle  butan  gew6de  georne  .  313 

Sume  menn  eac  drincacS  set  deadra  manna  lice 

ofer  ealle  J)a  niht  switSe  unrihtlice  . 

and  gremiatS  god  mid  heora  gegaf-sprsece  . 

Jjonne  nan  gebeorscype  ne  gebyracS  set  lice.  316 

ac  halige  gebedu  J^ger  gebyriatS  swi]5or  . 

Hwilon  comon  to  '^am^  halgan  hund-twelftig  manna 

mislice  geuntrumode  mid  manegum  brocum  . 

and  Jja  wurdon  ealle  wundorlice  gehselde  .  320 

binnan  ]3rym  wucum  .  and  hi  wendon  ham 

jjancigende  J)am  selmihtigan  gode  ^  and  ]7am  arwurtSan  swij?une  . 

Sumes  Jjegnes  cniht  feoll  fserlice  of  his  ^  horse 

pcet  him  to-bserst  se  earm  .  and  se  o'Ser  sceanca  .  324 

and  swiSe  wearcS  gecwysed  .  pcet  hi  sona  wendon 

pcet  he  Jjser-rihte  sceolde  sweltan  heom  ^  setforan  . 

He  wses  his  hlaforde  swy]?e  leof  8er|?an  . 

and  se  hlaford  pa*  besargode  swytSe  ]?one  cniht  .  328 

and  bsed  jjone  selmihtigan  mid  inwerdre  heortan  . 

•  Leaf  99.        ^  Aiove  the  line.        '  him,  alt.  to  heom.        *  Above  the  line. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHUUN,    BISHOP.  461 

who  worketh  these  miracles,  and  I  \yill  that  ye  bring 

your  tapers  to  me,  and  prostrate  yourselves,  396 

and  I  will  grant  you  what  you  are  desiring.' 

He  thus  blasphemed  a  long  time  with  foolish  words, 

until  he  fell  silenced,  as  if  he  were  lifeless, 

and  they  bore  him  straightway  home  to  his  bed.  300 

He  lay  thus  a  long  time,  despairing  of  his  life ; 

then  at  last  his  kinsmen  carried  the  man 

to  Saint  Swithhun,  and  he  himself  confessed 

his  foolish  words,  that  he  had  presumptously  spoken,  304 

and    entreated   pardon    from    him,   and   thereon    he   was    made 

whole, 
so  that  he  went  home  in  health  with  his  kinsmen. 
It  is  likewise  to  wit,  that  men  do  unwisely 
when  they  doltishly  jest  at  dead  men's  corpses,  308 

and  introduce  by  their  sport  any  licentiousness, 
when  they  should  rather  sorrow  for  the  dead, 
and  dread  the  coming  of  death  for  themselves, 
and  earnestly  pray  for  his  soul  without  [any]  madness.  312 

Some  men  also  most  unrighteously 
drink  the  whole  night  at  a  lyke-wake, 
and  blaspheme  God  with  their  wanton  speech, 
whereas  no  beer-drinking  is  seemly  at  a  wake,  316 

but  rather  holy  prayers  are  fitting  there. 

Once  there  came  to  the  saint  a  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
diversely  afflicted  with  many  diseases, 

and  they  were  all  wondrously  healed  320 

within  three  weeks,  and  returned  home, 
thanking  Almighty  God  and  the  venerable  Swithhun. 

A  certain  thane's  servant  fell  suddenly  from  his  horse 
so  that  his  arm  and  left  leg  broke,  324 

and  he  was  so  much  crushed  that  they  straightway  thought 
he  would  at  once  die  right  before  them  ; 
he  had  previously  been  very  dear  to  his  lord, 
and  the  lord  greatly  lamented  for  the  servant,  328 

and  besought  the  Almighty  from  his  inmost  heart 


463  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

Ipcet  he  ]?am  menn  geheolpe  J^urh  cSone  mseran  swi|5un  . 
He  clypode  eac  to  swiSune  pus  secgende  mid  geomerunge  . 
Eala  cSu  halga  swi'Sun  .  bide  ]5one  hselend  .  332 

Ipcet  he  lif  forgife  J)ysum  licgendum  cnihte  . 
and  ic  beo  ]?3es  \>e  geleaffulra  Jjam  lifigendan  gode  . 
eallum  minum  dagum  gif  he  deS  ]?is  ]?urh  Tpe  . 
Se  cniht  'Sa  aras  hal  gehseled  Ipxirh.  sancte  s\vi]3iin  .  336 

and  se  hlaford  Jjses  faegnode  .  and  mid  geleafan  god  herede  . 
Sum  eald  J?egn  wses  eac  on  wihtlande  untrum  . 
swa  pcet  he  Iseg  bseddryda  sume  nigon  gear  . 
and  of  'Sam  bedde  ne  mihte  buton  bine  man  bsere  .  340 

Him  comon  }5a  on  swefne  to  twegen  scinende  halgan  . 
and  heton  hine  yrnan  ardlice  mid  him  . 
^  pa  cwsetS  se  adliga  hu  mseg  ic  yrnan  mid  eow  . 
J)onne  ic  ne  aras  of  Jjysum  bedde  ana  .  344 

nu  for  nigon  gearum  butan  oj^res  mannes  fylste  . 
pa  cwsedon  pa,  halgan  .  pn  cymst  to  Ssere  stowe 
gif  Su  fserst  mid  us  nu  .  Saer  J^ser  Su  under-fehst  Jsine  hsele  , 
He  weart5  ]5a  swytSe  fsegen  .  and  wolde  faran  mid  heom  ^  .    348 
ac  ]5a]5a  he  ne  mihte  heom  ^  mid  sySian  . 
Jja  flugon  hi  geond  ]?a  lyft  and  feredon  ]3one  adligan  . 
olSpcet  hi  becomon  to  sumum  senlicum  felda  fjsegre  geblowen  . 
and  pasY  wses  an  cyrce  of  scinendum  golde  .  352 

and  of  gymstanum  standende  on  J)am  felda  ^  . 
and  se  halga  swiSun  on  scinendum  msesse-reafe 
stod  set  (Sam  weofode  .  swylce  he  wolde  msessian  . 
SwySun  cwsecS  Jsa  sona  to  J)am  seocan  menn  .  356 

ic  seege  (Se  broSor  ]3u  ne  scealt  lieonon-for'5 
nanon  menn  yfel  don  .  ne  nanne  man  wyrigan  . 
ne  nsenne  man  tselan  .  ne  teonful  beon  . 

ne  tSu  man-slagum  ne  geSweerlsece  .  ne  manfullum  reaferum  .  360 
ne  tSeofum  ]5a  ne  olsece  .  ne  yfeldsedum  ne  ge-tSwserlsece  . 
ac  switSor  gehelp  swa  p\i  selost  msege 
wan-hafolum  mannum  mid  J^inum  agenum  spedum  . 
and  J)u  swa  ]3urh  godes  mihte  sylf  hist  gehseled  .  364 

^  Leaf  99,  back.        -  him,  alt.  to  heom.        *  felde,  alt.  to  felda. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  463 

that  he  would  help  the  man  through  the  great  Swithhun  ; 

he  cried  eke  to  Swithhun,  thus  saying  in  his  lamentation, 

'  Oh  thou  holy  Swithhun,  pray  to  Jesus  332 

that  He  may  grant  life  to  this  sick  servant, 

and  I  will  be  for  this  the  faithfuller  to  the  living  God 

all  my  days,  if  He  does  this  through  thee.' 

Then  the  servant  arose,  made  whole  through  St.  Swithhun.    3.36 

The  lord  rejoiced  thereat,  and  with  faith  praised  God. 

A  certain  old  thane  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  was  also  afflicted, 
so  that  he  lay  bedridden  some  nine  years, 

and  could  not  leave  the  bed  unless  he  were  carried.  340 

To  him  came  in  a  dream  two  shining  saints, 
and  bade  him  quickly  run  with  them. 
Then  quoth  the  sick  man,  '  How  can  I  run  with  you 
when  I  have  not  arisen  from  this  bed  alone,  344 

without  some  man's  help,  now  for  nine  years  ] ' 
Then  said  the  saints,  '  Thou  shalt  come  to  that  place, 
if    thou  goest    with    us    now,    where    thou    shalt    receive    thy 

health.' 
He  was  then  very  glad,  and  desired  to  go  with  them ;  348 

but  when  he  could  not  journey  with  them, 
then  flew  they  through  the  air,  and  bare  the  sick  man 
until  they  came  to  a  solitary  field,  brightly  blooming, 
and  there  was  a  church,  of  shining  gold  352 

and  of  precious  stones,  standing  in  the  field; 
and  St.  Swithhun,  in  shining  eucharistic  vestments, 
stood  before  the  altar,  as  if  about  to  say  mass. 
Then  said  Swithhun  straightway  to  the  sick  man,  355 

*I  tell  thee,  brother,  that  henceforth  thou  must  not 
do  evil  to  any  man,  nor  curse  any  man, 
nor  speak  evil  of  any  man,  nor  be  malicious, 
nor  consent  to  manslayers,  nor  connive  at  wicked  360 

I    robbers  and  thieves,  nor  join  in  evil  deeds, 

I  but  rather  help,  as  best  thou  canst, 

\  needy  men  with  thine  own  goods, 
\and  thou  thyself  shalt  be  healed  by  the  power  of  God.'  364 


464  XXI.     NATALE  SANCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

Se  adliga  j^a  'Sohte  pcet  he  yfel  nolde  don 

buton  }?am  anum  pe  him  ser  yfel  dyde  . 

and  'Sam  wolde  don  wel  pe  him  wel  dyde  ser  . 

pa  wiste  se  halga  switSun  hu  his  heorte  smeade  .  368 

and  cwsetS  bliSelice  him  to  .  BrotSor  ic  be  secge  . 

ne  do  pu.  swa  pn  smeadest  .  pcet  Su  derige  senigum 

Jjeah  'Se  he  derige  Se  .  ac  Jsinum  drilitne  ge-efenlsec  . 

se  Se  nolde  wyrian  ]5a  Se  hine  dydon  to  cwale  .  372 

and  het  his  folgeras  pcet  hi  for  heora  fyondum  ge-bsedon  . 

Eac  cwaeS  paulus  se  apostol  to  ealluw  cristenum  mannum  . 

gif  Sinum  fynd  hingrige  fed  hine  mid  mettum  . 

^  oSSe  gif  him  J)yrste  Su  do  him  drincan.  376 

pa  cwceS  se  bedryda  to  Sam  bisceope  eft  . 

La  leof  .  sege  me  hwset  pn  sy  manna  . 

nu  Su  manna  heortan  miht  swa  asmeagen  . 

pa  cwseS  se  halga  swySun  .  ic  eom  se|?e  nu  niwan  com  .       380 

swylce  he  cwsede  swa  .  ic  wses  geswutelod  nu  niwan  . 

pa  cwceS  se  bsedryda  to  Sam  bisceope  eft. 

hu  eart  Su  gehaten  .  and  se  halga  him  cwceS  to  , 

ponne  Su  cymst  to  winceastre  .  ]7u  wast  minne  naman  .         384 

Se  man  wearS  ]?a  gebroht  to  his  bedde  eft  sona  . 

and  awdc  of  slsepe  .  and  ssede  his  wife 

ealle  Sa  ge-sihSe  pe  he  gesewen  haefde  . 

pa  cwseS  pcet  wif  him  to  .  pcet  hit  wsere  swySun  388 

se  Se  hine  Iserde  mid  Jjsere  halgan  lare  . 

and  Jjone  Se  he  geseah  on  Ssere  cyrcan  swa  fsegerne  . 

Heo  cwceS  Sa  to  ]?am  were  .  hit  wsere  nu  full  good  . 

pcet  Se  man  beere  to  cyrcan  .  and  ]?u  bsede  ]3one  halgan         392 

pcet  he  Se  gehaelde  ]3urh  his  halgan  ge-earnunga^  . 

Hine  man  bser  Sa  sona  of  Sam  bedde  to  cyrcan 

binnan  withlande  .  and  he  weai-S  gehseled  sona 

379.  swiiasme%an.  383.  e^rt;  ge-hiiten;  td 

380.  swi'Shun ;  nii  niwan  c6m.  384.  w^st. 

381.  swa  cwaede  ;  nii  niwan.  385.  mann. 

382.  bedryda.  386.  slaepe;  sade;  wife. 

^  Leaf  100.  ^  ge-eamunge,  alt,  to  ge-earnunga. 


XXI.     SAINT  SWITHHUNj   BISHOP.  465 

/Then  the  sick  man  reflected  that  he  did  not  wish  to  do  evil 

,'  save  ouly  to  those  who  before  had  done  evil  to  him, 
and  that  he  wished  to  do  well  to  those  who  before  had  done  well 

to  him. 
But  St.  Swithhun  knew  how  his  heart  reasoned,  368 

and  said  blithely  to  him,  '  Brother,  I  tell  thee, 
(Jb  not,  as  thou  thinkest,  harm  to  any  man 
though  he  may  harm  thee,  but  imitate  thy  Lord, 
Who  would  not  curse  those  who  put  Him  to  death,  371 

and  bade  His  followers  pray  for  their  enemies. 

\  Likewise  saith  Paul  the  Apostle  to  all  Christian  men, 

\  "  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him  with  meats, 
H)r  if  he  thirst,  give  thou  him  drink."  '  376 

Then  said  the  bedridden  man  again  to  the  bishop, 
'  Oh  sir,  tell  me  what  manner  of  man  thou  art, 
since  thou  canst  so  discern  men's  hearts.' 

Then  said  the  holy  Swithhun,  '  I  am  he  who  now  newly  came,'  380 
as  if  he  had  said,  *  I  was  now  newly  made  known.' 
Then  again  said  the  bedridden  man  to  the  bishop, 
'How  art  thou  called]'   and  the  saint  said  to  him, 
*  When  thou  comest  to  Winchester,  thou  shalt  know  ray  name.'  384 
Then  immediately  the  man  was  brought  again  to  his  bed, 
and  awoke  from  sleep,  and  told  his  wife 
all  the  vision  that  he  had  seen. 

Then  said  the  woman  to  him,  'that  it  was  Swithhun  388 

who  had  instructed  him  in  this  holy  lore, 
and  whom  he  had  seen  so  gloi'ious  in  the  church.' 
Then  she  said  to  her  husband,  '  It  would  now  be  full  well 
that  men  should  cai'iy  thee  to  church,  and  thou  shouldst  pray  to 
the  saint  392 

that  he  would  heal  tliee  through  his  holy  merits.' 
Then  straightway  they  bare  him  from  his  bed  to  a  church 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  he  was  instantly  healed 

388.  wif;  t6;  swiShun.  393.  ge-haelde ;  ge-eiCrnunge, 

389.  la;rde;  l;Cre.  394.  8(5na. 

391.  n6;  g(5d.  395.  ge-habled. 

392.  man  J^e  bare ;  banle. 

30 


466  XXI.    NATALE   SANCTI   SWYDUNI,   EPISCOPI. 

Jjurh  Jjone  eelmihtigan  god  .  for  swytSunes  ge-earnungum  .      396 

and  eode  him  t5a  ham  hal  on  his  fotum  . 

setSe  ser  wses  geboren  on  bgere  to  cyrcan  . 

He  ferde  eac  sitSSan  to  win'ceastre  ior-ra<Se  . 

and  cydde  atSelwolde  )?am  arwur]?an  bisceope  .  400 

hu  he  wearS  gehseled  j^urh  j^one  halgan  swijjun  . 

and  land-fertS  se  ofer-ssewisca  hit  gesette  on  Iseden  . 

Nu  is  to  witenne  pcei  we  ne  sceolan  cepan  ealles 

to  swytSe  be  awefnum  .  fortJan  ])e  hi  ealle  ne  beotS  of  gode  .  404 

Sume  swefna  syndon  Bo?51ice  of  gode  . 

swa  swa  we  on  bocum  rsedaS  .  and  sume  beoS  of  deofle 

to  sumuwi  swicdome  hu  he  tSa  sawle  for-psere  . 

ac  his  gedwimor  ne  meeg  derian  J7am  godum  .  408 

gif  hi  hi  bletsia]?  .  and  hi  ^gebidda'S  to  gode  . 

pa  swefna  beocS  wynsume  Jje  geYmr'Saj?  of  gode  . 

and  J?a  beotS  egefulle  tSe  of  ]3am  deofle  curaacS  . 

and  god  sylf  forbead  pcet  we  swefnum  ne  folgion  .  412 

Jje  Ises  Se  se  deofol  us  bedydrian  mtege  . 

Sum  man  on  winceastre  weartS  yrre  his  tJeowan  men 

for  sumere  gymeleaste  .  and  gesette  bine  on  fetera  . 

He  sset  Sa  swa  lange  on  ]7am  laSum  bendum  .  416 

6^cet  he  bestsel  ut  mid  his  stafe  hoppende  . 

and  gesohte  'Sone  sanct  swySun  mid  geomerunge  . 

Se  scyttel  tSa  asceat  sona  of  Jjsere  fetere  . 

and  se  tSeowa  aras  ahred  Ipuvh  t5one  halgan  .  420 

Sum  mann  wses  gebunden  on-butan  \)cet  heafod 

for  his  hefigum  gylte  .  se  com  to  Ipam  halgan  . 

and  his  swara  heafod-bend  sona  to-baerst  .  swa  he  hine  gebaed 

Ne  mage  we  awritan  ne  mid  wordum  asecgan  424 

ealle  pa,  wundra  pe  se  halga  wer  swiSun  . 

396.  swiShiines  ge-edmunguin.  403.  is  lis  to;  sceolon  c^pan. 

397.  ^ode ;  Mm  Ml ;  f(5tum.  404.  swiSe. 

398.  £er;  baere.  405.  swefna. 

399.  f^rde  e^c  sy8San.  406.  bdcum  rteda??. 

400.  ^-.  407.  hti  h^  ;  for-ra;de. 

401.  ge-hteled;  switJhun.  408.  gddum, 

402.  leden.  410.  swefna. 

*  win  above  the  line.  ^  Leaf  100,  back. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHHtJN,   BISHOP. 


467 


by  Almighty  God,  for  Swithhun's  merits,  396 

and  he  then  went  home  whole  on  his  feet, 
who  before  was  borne  on  a  bier  to  church. 
Then  afterwards  he  went  very  quickly  to  Winchester, 
and  told  the  venerable  bishop  /Ethelwold  400 

how  he  had  been  healed  through  the  holy  Swithhun ; 
,and  Landferth,  the  foreigner,  set  it  down  in  Latin. 
Now  is  it  to  be  known,  that  we  f^hould  not  at  all  trust 
too  much  to  dreams,  because  they  are  not  all  from  God ;      404 
some  dreams  are  in  truth  from  God, 
even  as  we  read  in  books,  and  some  are  from  the  devil 
for  some  deceit,  [seeking]  how  he  may  pervert  the  soul, 
but  his  phantasms  cannot  harm  good  men,  408 

if  they  cross  themselves,  and  commend  themselves  to  God. 
Those  dreams  are  pleasant  which  come  from  God, 
and  those  are  fearful  which  come  from  the  devil ; 
and  God  Himself  forbade  us  to  follow  dreams,  412 

lest  the  devil  have  power  to  bewitch  us. 

A  certain  man  in  "Winchester  was  angry  with  his  serf 
for  some  carelessness,  and  put  him  in  fetters ; 
he  sat  there  a  long  time  in  the  hated  bonds  416 

until  he  stole  out,  hopping  by  help  of  liis  staff, 
and  sought  Saint  Swithhun  with  lamentation. 
The  bolt  at  once  shot  out  of  the  fetter, 
and  the  serf  rose  up,  freed  by  the  saint.  420 

A  certain  man  was  bound  about  the  head 
for  his  heavy  guilt ;  he  came  to  the  saint, 
_and  his  sore  head-bond  soon  burst  asunder  as  he  prayed. 

We  cannot  write,  nor  recount  in  words,  424 

all  the  miracles  that  the  holy  man  Swithhun 


411.  egesfull(e). 

412.  -bead;  swefnum. 

413.  labs  ;  lis  ;  mage. 

414.  mann  ;  menu. 

416.  Wndum. 

417.  rit;  stjefe  hoppegende. 

418.  ge-sdhte;  swid'hun. 


479.  scj^tels;  asc^t, 

420.  arsis  ahredd. 

421.  ge-bilnden  on-bi'itan ;  b^fod. 

422.  hefeguni  gylte ;  c6m. 

423.  swjlra ;  -bend. 

424.  awiftan  ;  wdrduni. 

425.  switihun. 

30-2 


468  XXI.     NATALE    SAXCTI    SWYDUNI,    EPISCOPI. 

}3urh  god  gefremode  on  'Sses  folces  gesihj)e  . 

ge  on  gehaeftum  mannum  .  ge  on  unlialum  mannum  . 

mannum  to  swutelunge  .  poet  hi  sylfe  magon  4^8 

godes  rice  geeai'nian  mid-  godum  weorcum  . 

swa  swa  swij^un  dyde  .  Jje  nu  scintS  }7urh  wundia  . 

Seo  ealde  cyrce  wses  call  behangen  mid  criccum  . 

and  mid  creopera  sceamelum  .  fram  ende  oS  ojjerne  432 

on  seg^mm  wage  .  pe  tSser  wurdon  gehaelede  . 

and  man  ne  mihte  swa  tSeah  macian  hi  healfe  up  . 

pyllice  tacna  cyJ^acS  Ipcet  crist  is  selmihtig  god  , 

pe  his  halgan  geswutelode  ]3urh  swylce  wel-dseda  .  436 

Jjeah  tSe  Sa  ludeiscan  fjurh  deofol  beswicene  . 

nellon  gelyfan  on  pone  lyfigendan  crist  . 

sertJan  pe  antecrist  ofslagen  biS  f)urh  god  . 

|)onne  bugatS  pa  earmingas  on  ende  j^ysre  worulde  440 

Se  Jjser  to  lafe  beo(5  mid  geleafan  to  criste  . 

and  Sa  serran  losiacS  pe  ser  ^  noldon  gelyfan  . 

AVe  habbatS  nu  gessed  be  swiSune  ]?us  sceortlice  . 

and  we  secgaS  to  so(5an  poet  se  tima  wses  gesselig  444 

and  wynsum  on  angel-cynne  .  J^a'Sa  eadgar  cynincg 

)3one  cristen-dom  ge-fyrtSrode  .  and  fela  munuclifa  arserde  . 

and  his  cynerice  wses  wunigende  on  sibbe  . 

swa  pcet  man  ne  gehyrde  gif  senig  scyp-here  wsere  448 

buton  agenre  leode  pe  'Sis  land  beoldon  . 

and  ealle  Sa  cyningas  pe  on  J?ysum  iglande  wseron  . 

eumera  .  and  scotta  .  comon  to  eadgare  . 

hwilon  anes  dseges  eahta  cyningas  .  452 

and  hi  ealle  gebugon  to  eadgares  Avissunge  . 

paer-to-eacan  vvseron  swilce  wundra  gefremode 

|)urh  Jjone  halgan  swySun  .  swa  swa  we  ssedon  ser  . 

and  swa  lange  swa  we  leofodon  )?3er  wurdon  gelome  wundra  .     456 

On  Sam  timan  wseron  eac  wurS-fulle  bisceopas  . 

427.  om.  Jirst  mnnnum  ;  unhfilum.  433.  segSerum  w^ge. 

429.  rfce  ge-darnian  ;  g<5dum.  435,  tacna  cyj^aS. 

430.  swiShun ;  nii  scfnj).  436.  swilce, 

432.  crdopera;  ende.  438.  god  (/o/- crist). 

'  Leaf  101. 


XXI.     SAINT  SWITHllUX,   BISHOP.  469 

wrought  by  the  power  of  God  in  the  sight  of  the  jieople, 

both  oil  prisoners,  and  on  sick  men, 

to  manifest  to  men  that  they  themselves  may  428 

merit  the  kingdom  of  heaven  by  good  works, 

even  as  Swithhun  did,  who  now  shineth  through  his  miracles. 

The  old  church  was  hung  all  round  with  crutches, 

and  with  the  stools  of  cripples,  (from  one  end  to  the  other   432 

on  either  wall),  who  had  been  healed  there, 

and  not  even  so  could  they  put  half  of  them  up. 

Such  tokens  declare  that  Christ  is  Almighty  God, 

Who  revealed  His  Saint  by  such  good  deeds,  436 

though  the  Jews,  deceived  by  the  devil, 

will  not  believe  in  the  living  Christ, 

until  Antichrist  shall  be  destroyed  by  God. 

Then  shall  those  miserable  people,  with  all  who  remain  440 

at  the  end  of  this  world,  submit  themselves  with  faith  to  Christ, 

fljid  the  men  of  old  shall  be  lost  who  formerly  would  not  believe. 

We  have  now  spoken  thus  briefly  of  Swithhun, 
and  we  say  of  a  truth  that  the  time  was  blessed  444 

and  winsome  in  England,  when  King  Eadgar 
furthered  Christianity,  and  built  many  monasteines, 
and  his  kingdom  still  continued  in  peace, 

so  that  no  fleet  was  heard  of,  448 

save  that  of  the  people  themselves  who  held  this  laud  ; 
and  all  the  kings  of  the  Cymry  and  Scots 
that  were  in  this  island,  came  to  Eadgar 

once  upon  a  day,  being  eight  kings,  453 

and  they  all  bowed  themselves  to  Eadgar's  rule. 
Then  moreover  were  such  wonders  wrought 
through  Saint  Swithhun,  as  we  said  before, 
and  as  long  as  we  have  lived  frequent  miracles  were  done  there.  456 
At  that  time  there  were  also  worthy  bishops, 

439.  acwe'ald  {for  ofslagen).  444.  tlma  ;  ge-saelig. 

440.  btJga'S  ;  pissere.  445.  cyning. 

441.  Ufe.  446.  -di5m;  -Ufa  arwrcle. 

442.  aerran ;  ge-lyfan.  447.  -rice. 

443.  niige-SKcl;  swiSaune.  [G.  omiUVL.  448-498] 


470  XXI.     NATALE    SANCTl    SWYDUNI,    EinSCOPI. 

dunstan  se  anrseda  set  Sam  erce-stole  . 

and  a]?elwold  se  arwur(5a  .  and  otSre  gehwylce  . 

ac  dunstan  and  a))elwold  wseron  drihtne  gecorene  .  460 

and  hi  swy(5ost  manodon  menn  to  godes  willan  . 

and  selc  god  arserdon  gode  to  cwemednysse  . 

ptct  geswutelia'5  Ipa,  wundra  ]}e  god  wyrc'S  Jjurli  hi  . 

ITEM  ALIA. 

Mannu7>i  is  eac  to  witenne  \)(Bt  manega  dry-men  464 

maciaS  menig-fealde  dydrunga  ]?urh  deofles  crajft  . 
swa  swa  wischeras  oft  doS  .  and  bedydriatS  menn 
swylce  hi  so'Slice  swylc  j^incg  don  . 

ac  hit  is  swa  Seah  dydrung  mid  deofles  crsefte  .  468 

and  gif  hwa  hit  bletsatS  Jjonne  ablyntS  seo  dydrung  . 
Be  Sam  we  magan  secgan  sume  soSe  bysne  . 
Macharius  wees  ge-haten  sum  halig  feeder 

on  ^  wsestene  wunigende  .  fela  wundra  wyrcende  473 

munuc-lifes  man  .  6a  wearS  an  mseden  forbroden 
J)urh  dry-manna  dydrunge  .  ge-dwimorlice  swa  tSeah  . 
pte<  mseden  wses  swa  forbroden  swylce  heo  an  myre  waere  . 
and  eallum  ]?am  Jjuhte  Ipe  hire  oulocodon  476 

swilce  heo  myre  wsere  .  na  mennisces  gecyndes  . 
pa  leddon  hire  magas  hi  to  macharie  . 
and  he  sona  axode  hwaet  hi  woldon  mid  IpSLm.  . 
pa  magas  him  cwsedon  to  .  )?eos  myre  J?e  Su  gesihst  480 

wses  ure  dohtor  arwurtSe  mseden  . 
ac  awyrigde  dry-menn  awendon  hi  to  myran  . 
nu  bidde  we  Se  leof  .  pcet  Su  ge-bide  for  hi 
and  hi  eft  awende  to  j^am  Se  heo  ser  wees  .  484 

Macharius  p&  cw«?S  to  hire  magum  Sus  . 
Ic  ge-seo  ]?is  meeden  on  menniscum  gecynde  . 
and  heo  nis  na  awend  swa  swa  ge  wenaS  pcet  heo  sy  . 
and  heo  nan  jjincg  on  hire  nsefS  horses  gecyndes  .  4S8 

ac  on  eowrum  gesihj)u//i  hit  is  swa  gehiwod 
^  Leaf  101,  back. 


XXI.     SAINT   SWITHHUN,    BISHOP.  471 

Dunstan,  the  resolute,  in  the  archbishopric, 

and  -^thelwold  the  venerable,  and  others  like  them ; 

but  Dunstan  and  ^thelwold  were  chosen  of  God,  460 

and  they,  most  of  all,  exhorted  men  to  [do]  God's  will, 

and  advanced  everything  good,  to  the  pleasure  of  God, 

as  the  miracles  testify  which  God  worketh  through  them. 


CONTINUATION  (St.  Macaeius). 

Men  should  also  take  notice,  that  many  sorcerers  464 

cause  manifold  delusions,  through  the  devil's  art, 
as  diviners  (?)  often  do,  and  deceive  men, 
as  if  they  would  verily  perform  a  desired  matter. 
But  it  is  nevertheless  a  delusion,  by  the  devil's  art ;  468 

and  if  anyone  makes  the  sign  of  the  cross  over  it,  then  the  delusion 

ceases. 
As  to  this,  we  may  relate  a  true  instance. 

A  certain  holy  father  was  named  Macarius, 
a  dweller  in  the  desert,  working  many  miracles,  473 

a  man  of  monastic  life.     Then  was  a  maiden  transformed 
by  the  delusion  of  sorcerers,  but  only  in  an  illusory  manner. 
The  maiden  was  transformed  so  as  to  seem  a  mare, 
and  it  appeared  to  all  who  looked  upon  her  476 

as  if  she  vere  a  mare,  not  of  human  kind. 
Then  her  parents  led  her  to  Macarius, 
and  he  straightway  asked  what  they  wanted  with  her. 
Her  parents  said  to  him :  *  This  mare  that  thou  seest  480 

was  [once]  our  daughter,  a  worshipful  maiden ; 
but  accursed  sorcerers  have  turned  her  into  a  mare. 
Now  we  entreat  thee,  master,  to  pray  for  her 
and  to  transform  her  again  to  what  she  was  before.'  484 

Then  Macarius  said  thus  to  her  parents, 
'  I  see  this  maiden  in  human  form, 
and  she  is  not  transfomned,  as  ye  imagine  her  to  be, 
and  she  hath  nothing  about  her  of  the  nature  of  a  horse,      488 
but  she  is  so  made  to  appear  in  your  sight 


472         XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOTXOISIAllIS,    MAllTYIlIS, 

J?urh  Sees  deofles  dydrunge  .  and  his  drymenn  leaslice  . 

Macharius  tSa  gebsed  for  pcet  mseden  god  . 

and  mid  ele  gesmyrode  .  and  mid  ealle  adrsefde  492 

]?as  deofles  gedwimor  .  ]?urh  his  drilitnes  naman  . 

swa  pcet  hi  ealle  gesawon  .  Ipcet  heo  ansund  wses  . 

Swylce  synd  J)a  dydrunga  Jjajre  dry-manna; 

Sy  wuldor  and  lof  ]3am  wel-willendan  scyppende  496 

|je  his  halgan  msersatS  mihtiglice  mid  wuudrum  . 

setSe  (i  rixatS  on  ecnysse  .     AMEN  .  498 


XXII. 

X   KALENDAS  AUGUSTI.    NATALE  BANCTI 
APOLLONARIS   MARTYRIS. 

[Collated  with  V.  =  Vitellius,  D.  17  (very  much  burnt)]. 

ON   BMS    CASEBES    DAGUM   DE   CLAVDIUS   W^S    GEHATEN  . 
com  se  eadiga  petrus  fram  antiochian  byrig  . 
in  to  rome  byrig  mid  manegum  gebro'Srum  . 
and  bodode  geleafan  bealdlice  psun  folce  .  4 

romaniscu?n.  .  and  ludeiscum  .  swa  swa  drihten  him  gewissode  . 
swa  pcet  tSa  romaniscan  and  Sa  re'San  iudeiscan 
manega  gelyfdon  on  Ipone  lyfigendau  hselend 
Jjurh  petres  bodunge  .  and  ge-bugon  to  fulluhte  .  8 

be-hreowsigende  heora  sj^mna  mid  socSre  dtedbote  . 
Hi  under-fen^gon  J)a  godcs  word  mid  gastlicre  blysse  . 
"pcet  god  wolde  asendan  his  sunu  to  man-cynne  . 
and  Jjurh  hine  ge-edniwigian  tSisne  ealdan  middan-eard  .  12 

pa  wses  tSser  mid  petre  sum  arwurSe  godes  man 
apollonaris  gehaten  .  ]?ges  halgan  apostoles  folgere  . 
to  tSam  cwoet?  petrus  sefter  sumum  fyrste  . 

Efne  \>vl  eart  gelsered  on  ealljim  J)ingum  be  Sam  hselende  .      16 
Aris  nu  and  under-foh  Jjone  halgan  gast  . 
and  haligne  bisceop-had  on  Jjses  hselendes  naman  . 
and  far  to  Jjsere  byrig  Tpe  is  gehaten  rauenna  . 

18,  V.  biscophad.  ^  Leaf  102. 


XXII.     SAINT   APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  473 

by  a  delusion  of  the  devil,  and  by  his  sorcerers  falsely.' 

Then  Macarius  prayed  to  God  for  the  maiden, 

and  besmeared  her  with  oil,  and  altogether  dispelled  492 

the  devil's  illusion,  through  the  name  of  his  Lord, 

so  that  they  all  saw  that  she  was  whole. 

Such  are  the  delusions  of  the  sorcerers. 

Be  glory  and  praise  to  the  benevolent  Creator,  496 

who  magnifieth  His  saints  mightily  by  miracles, 

who  reigneth  ever  to  all  eternity.     Amen.  498 


XXII. 

JULY  23.     SAINT  APOLLINARIS,   MARTYR. 

In  the  Csesar's  days  who  was  hight  Claudius, 

came  the  blessed  Peter,  from  the  city  of  Antioch 

into  the  city  of  Rome,  with  many  brethren, 

and  preached  the  faith  boldly  to  the  people,  4 

both  to   Romans  and  Jews,  even  as   the  Lord  had  commanded 

him, 
so  that  of  the  Romans  and  cruel  Jews 
many  believed  in  the  living  Saviour 

through  Peter's  preaching,  and  submitted  to  baptism,  8 

bewailing  their  sins  with  true  repentance. 
They  received  God's  word  with  ghostly  joy, 
that  God  had  willed  to  send  His  Son  to  mankind, 
and  through  Him  to  renew  this  old  earth.  u 

There  was  then  with  Peter  a  certain  worthy  man  of  God 
called  Apollinaris,  the  holy  Apostle's  follower. 
To  him  quoth  Peter  after  some  time, 

'Behold,  thou  art  instructed  in  all  things  concerning  Jesus;    16 
arise  now,  and  receive  the  Holy  Gliost, 
and  the  holy  episcopal  office  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
and  go  to  the  city  that  is  called  Ravenna, 


474        XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOLLONARIS,    MARTYRIS. 

peer  wunaS  micel  folc  on  fulura  IiaaSenscype  .  20 

boda  heom  ^  be  j?am  hselende  .  and  ne  beo  tSu  afyrht  . 

Swutollice  ?5u  wast  pcet  se  is  BO'S  godes  sunu  . 

set5e  deadum  for-geaf  lif  sefter  dea'Se  . 

and  wanlialum  mannum  mid  bis  worde  Isece-ddm  .  24 

-^fter  tSysum  wordum  se  eadiga  petrus 

gehadode  Apollonarem  [and  gebalgode^]  to  bisceope  . 

and  his  handa  sette  ofer  his  heafod  and  cwoetS  . 

Asende  ure  haelend  crist  his  halgan  engel  mid  ]?e  .  28 

se  gefortSige  tSe  .  and  J?ine  fare  gewissige  . 

and  pe  ge-ti)?ige  ]38es  Se  pn  ge-wilnige  . 

and  hine  swa  sende  to '  tSaere  ^  byrig '  mid  siblicuni  cosse  . 

Appollonaris  (Sa  ferde  to  tSsere  fore-saedan  byrig  .  32 

and  Sumne  blindne  mann  ^  gehselde  .  ser|?an  pe  he  to  'Ssere  byrig 

become  . 
and  manega  gelyfdon  fjurh  tSses  mannes  hseljje 
on  Sone  so(5an  god  .  and  swa  wui'don  gefullode  . 
He  com  tSa  to  rauenna  tSsere'  byrig  ^  and  hraSe  j^aer  geswutelode 
]jses  hselendes  milite  on  wann-halum  mannum  .  37 

peer  wses  sum  forcS  }?egen  on  |?3ere  fore-saedan  byrig  . 
se  haefde  gehyred  be  tSam  halgan  were  . 

and  axode  gif  he  cu?5e  aht  on  laece-craefte  .  40 

Apollonaris  him  cwce'S  to  .  Ne  cann  ic  naht  on  lacnunge 
buton  on  J?8es  haelendes  naman  .  and  se  pegen  him  cwcecS  to  . 
*  Efne  min  wif  is  for  manegum  wintrum  untrum  . 
pam  waes  aelc  laece-crseft  wiSer-raede  oS  ]?is  .  44 

Nu  gif  aenig  miht  is  on  (Se  .  ge-opena  hi  mid  weorcum  . 
Apollonaris  ?Sa  awcZwyrde  and  cwcctS  . 
ge-openige  god  aelmihtig  eowre  heortena  eagan  . 
pcet  ge  on  Jjone  haelend  gelyfan  .  J?onne  ge  geseotS  his  wundra  .  48 
He  genam  'Sa  Sses  wifes  hand  .  j^as  word  clypigende  . 
Aris  nu  on  c5aes  haelendes  naman  .  and  on  hine  gelyf  . 
and  ne  sege  jju  heonon-fortS  pcet  aenig  sy  his  gelica  . 

26.  V.  retains  and  gehalgode.  30.  V.  and  J)8es  ])e  ti])5ge  ;  wilnige. 

'  him,  alt.  to  heom,  *  The  ivorth  and  gehalgode  are  struck  through  in 

the  MS.        ^  Added  above  the  line.      *  Leaf  102,  back. 


XXII.     SAINT    APOI.LINARIS,    MARTYR.  475 

where  dwell  much  people  in  foul  heathenism ;  20 

preach  to  them  concerning  Jesus,  and  be  not  affrighted. 

Clearly  thou  knowest  that  He  is  God's  very  Son, 

Who  gave  to  the  dead  life  after  death, 

and  to  sick  men  healing  by  His  Word.'  24 

After  these  words  the  blessed  Peter 

ordained  and  consecrated  Apollinaris  as  bishop, 

and  laid  his  hands  upon  his  head,  and  said ; 

'  Our  Saviour  Christ  send  His  holy  angel  with  thee,  28 

and  prosper  thee,  and  direct  thy  journey, 

and  grant  thee  that  which  thou  desirest ;' 

and  so  sent  him  to  the  city  with  the  kiss  of  peace. 

Therewith  Apollinaris  journeyed  to  the  aforesaid  city,  32 

and  healed  a  blind  man  before  he  had  come  into  the  city  ; 

and  many  believed,  through  this  man's  cure, 

in  the  true  God,  and  so  were  baptized. 

Then  he  came  into  Ravenna,  and  speedily  there  manifested     36 

the  Saviour's  power  upon  sick  men. 

There  was  a  certain  chief  noble  in  the  aforesaid  city, 
who  had  heard  of  the  holy  man, 

and  asked  if  he  knew  aught  of  leechcraft.  40 

Apollinaris  said  to  him,  '  I  know  naught  of  healing, 
save  in  the  name  of  Jesus;'  and  the  nobleman  said  to  him, 
*  Behold,  my  wife  has  been  for  many  years  afflicted  ; 
all  leechcraft  has  been  adverse  [useless]  to  her  until  now;       44 
now,  if  any  power  is  in  thee,  disclose  it  by  thy  works.' 
Apollinaris  thereupon  answered,  and  said, 
'  May  Almighty  God  unclose  the  eyes  of  your  hearts, 
that  ye  may  believe  on  Jesus  when  ye  see  His  wonders.'         ^8 
Then  took  he  the  woman's  hand,  uttex-ing  aloud  these  words, 
'  Arise  now  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  believe  on  Him, 
and  say  not  henceforth,  that  any  is  like  unto  Him.' 


476        XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOLLONAEIS,    MARTYRIS. 

Heo  aras  J^a  soiia  andsund  of  Jjam  bedde  .  52 

and  cwcEcS  Ipcet  nan  god  nsere  butan  se  lieelend  pe  he  embe  bodade  . 

pa  wundi'ode  se  Ipegn.  his  wifes  hgelSe  . 

and  hi  ealle  ssedon  pcet  se  is  soS  god 

\)e  swilce  wundra  macatS  .  and  se  mseg  on  ge-feohte  56 

l^am  sige  forgifan  .  }?e  hine  soSlice  lufiat5  . 

He  wearcS  ]?a  gefullod  mid  his  wife  .  and  cildum  . 

and  eall  his  hyred  on  Jjses  hselendes  naman  . 

and  fela  |78era^  hsetSenra  fengon  to  geleafan  .  60 

Apollonaris  Jsa  (5aer  wunode  mid  him 

on  rauenna  byrig  .  and  bodode  geleafan  ." 

and  manega  gefullode  tSses  folces  meniu  . 

Manega  eac  befsestan  sy'StSan  hi  gefullode  wseron  .  64 

heora  cild  to  lare  ]?am  sotSfsestan  bydele  . 

and  godes  geleafa  tSser  weox  .  and  wanode  se  hsecSen-scype  . 

Hwaet  se  halga  bisceop  J?a  on  tSsere  byrig  wunode 

Sa  twelf  geai'  fullice  .  and  gefullode  pa  leode  .  68 

and  gelome  heom^  msessode  ,  and  msesse-preostas  gehadode  . 

and  diaconas  .  and  clericas  .  and  dseghwamlice  mid  him 

godes  lof  gefylde  mid  gastlicum  sangum  . 

On  tSsere  byrig  wses  sum  j^egn  bonifacius  gehaten  .  72 

se  weart5  fserlice  dumb  .  and  his  wif  ]?a  asende 

to  J^am  halgan  bisceope  .  and  baed  his  geneosunge  . 

Efne  'Sa  se  bisceop  eode  to  his  huse  . 

and  an  wif-man  wses  tSser  wod  on  his  huse  76 

^  and  se  deofol  clypode  and  cwsecS  Jjurh  |5oue  wodan 

to  tSawi  halgan  bisceope  .  ic  gedo  pcet  man  gebint  t5e  . 

handum  and  fotum  .  and  heonon  Se  swa  tihcS 

of  jjysre  byrig  .  and  se  bisceop  fm<iwyrde  .  80 

Adumba  Su  deofol  .  and  of  hire  gewit  . 

and  ne  sprtec  pn  nsefre  eft  |7urh  senigne  mann  . 

pa  ge-wat  se  deofol  of  Sam  wodan  sona  . 

and  se  bisceop  eode  J?ser  bonifacius  Iseg  .  84 

dumb  on  his  bedde  .  and  gebisd  for  hine  Svis  . 

67.  V.  biscop.  69.  V.  msessa-.  72    V.  boneficius. 

'  74.  V.  biscope.  80.  V.  ])issere. 

1  J)SBre,  alt,  to  Jjisra.         ^  liiin,  alt.  to  heom.         '  Leaf  103. 


XXII.     SAINT   APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  477 

Slie  arose  then  immediately,  wliole,  from  the  bed,  52 

and  said  that  there  was  no  God  but  Jesus,  of  Whom  he  preached. 

Then  wondered  the  nobleman  at  his  wife's  health, 

and  they  all  said  that  He  is  the  true  God, 

Who  doeth  such  marvels,  and  Who  hath  power  in  battle  56 

to  give  the  victory  to  those  who  truly  love  Him. 

He  was  tlien  baptized,  with  his  wife  and  children, 

and  all  his  household,  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 

and  many  of  the  heathen  accepted  the  faith.  60 

Apollinaris  then  dwelt  there  with  him 

in  the  city  of  Ravenna,  and  preached  the  faith, 

and  baptized  a  great  multitude  of  the  people. 

Many  also,  after  they  were  baptized,  64 

entrusted    their    children    to    the     teaching     of    the     righteous 

preacher, 
and  God's  faith  there  waxed,  and  heathenism  waned. 
So  the  holy  bishop  then  remained  in  that  city 
twelve  full  years,  and  baptized  the  people,  68 

and  often  he  said  mass,  and  ordained  mass-priests, 
and  deacons,  and  clerks,  and  daily  with  them 
celebrated  God's  praise  with  spiritual  hymns. 

In  that  city  was  a  certain  noble,  named  Bonifacius,  72 

who  became  suddenly  dumb;    so  his  wife  thereupon  sent 
to  the  holy  bishop,  and  entreated  his  visitation. 
Lo  !    then  the  bishop  went  to  his  house, 

and  there  was  a  woman  in  his  house  who  was  mad,  76 

and  the  devil  cried,  and  said  through  the  possessed  one 
to  the  holy  bishop,  'I  will  cause  men  to  bind  thee 
hands  and  feet,  and  so  drag  thee  hence 

out  of  this  city ; '  and  the  bishop  answered,  80 

'  Hold  thy  peace,  thou  devil,  and  depart  out  of  her, 
and  speak  thou  never  again  through  any  man.' 
Then  immediately  the  devil  came  out  of  the  possessed, 
and  the  bishop  went  where  Bonifacius  lay  84 

dumb  upon  his  bed,  and  prayed  for  liim  thus, 


478         XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOLI.ONAllIS,    MARTYRTS. 

Drihten  hselend  crist  \)u  tSe  be-clysedest 
}5yses  mannes  ma's  .  pcet  lie  ne  moste  leng 

clypian  to  hsetSen-gildum  swylce  him  to  fultume  .  88 

ge-opena  nu  his  mucS  peet  he  msersige  jjinne  naman  . 
and  gelyfe  pcet  }?u  eart  lifigende  god  on  worulde  . 
Hi  cwaedon  tSa  amen  .  and  on  Ssere  ylcan  tide 
wear's  his  tunge  unbunden  .  and  he  blyssigende  cwseS  .  92 

Nis  nan  ofier  god  on  to  gelyfenne  . 
butan  se  ana  pe  tSes  eadiga  bodatS  . 
On  }7am  ylcan  dsege  gelyfdon  of  J)3ere  leode  on  god  . 
ma  Sonne  fif  huud  manna  micclum  Jjancigende  gode  96 

and  |?am  halgan  were  .  Jjurh  ]?one  pe  hi  wurdon  onlihte  . 
Rufus  wses  gthaten  sum  hseSen  mund-bora 
pe  Sa  burh  bewiste  .  Sa  wearS  his  dohtor  seoc  . 
pa  aende  se  feeder  sona  to  Sam  bisceope  .  100 

and  sona  swa  he  {jyder  com  swa  sawlode  pcet  mseden  . 
Hi  weopon  Sa  ealle  'Se  jjser-inne  wseron  . 
and  £e  halga  wer  cwceS  .  to  hire  f seder  Sus  . 
Ongin  nu  wel  rufe  and  behat  me  mid  a'Se  .  10^ 

gif  Sin  dohtor  nu  hal  biS  .  pcet  }3U  hire  geSafige 
pcet  heo  folgie  crista  .  and  Su  oncnsewst  nu  his  mihte  . 
Rufus  him  awc?wyrde  .  Efne  heo  is  nu  dead  . 
ac  gif  ic  ge-seo  pcet  heo  eft  gesund  leofaS  .  108 

ic  herige  ]5onne  gcdes  mihte  and  heo  hire  hselende  folgie  . 
Mid  |?am  Se  hi  ealle  weopon  J)a  eode  he  to  Sam  lice  . 
and  clypode  mid^  geleafan  to  criste  .  and  cwceS  . 
Min  god  drihten  hselend  .  pe  minum  lareowe  petre  112 

forgeafe  his  gewilnunga  swa  hwait  swa  he  gewylnode  aet  Se  . 
arser  nu  Sis  mseden  of  Sysum  reSum  dea'Se  . 
forSan  pe  heo  is  j^in  gesceaft  .  and  nis  nan  god  buton  Su  . 
Heo  aras  J^a  sona  .  and  mid  hreame  clypode  .  116 

Msere  is  se  god  pe  tSes  mann  us  bodaS  . 
and  nis  nan  oSer  god  buton  he  ana  . 
pa  blissodon  |?a  cristenan  on  cristes  herunge  . 
and  pcet  mgeden  wearS  gefullod  and  hire  modor  samod  .  120 

'  Leaf  103,  Lack. 


I 


XXII.     SAINT   APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  479 

'Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thou  who  didst  close  up 

this  man's  mouth,  that  he  might  no  longer 

cry  to  heathen  idols  as  if  to  help  him,  88 

open  now  his  mouth,  that  he  may  magnify  Thy  name, 

and  believe  that  Thou  art  the  living  God  upon  earth.' 

They  then  said,  'Amen,'  and  in  that  same  moment 

was  his  tongue  unbound,  and  he  rejoicing  said,  91 

'  There  is  no  other  God  in  whom  to  believe, 

except  Him  only,  Whom  this  blessed  man  preacheth.' 

On  that  same  day,  more  than  five  hundred  of  the  people 

believed  in  God,  greatly  thanking  God,  96 

and  the  holy  man,  through  whom  they  had  been  enlightened. 

There  was  a  heathen  prefect,  named  Rufus, 
who  presided  over  the  city,  whose  daughter  fell  sick. 
Then  the  father  sent  at  once  to  the  bishop,  100 

and  as  soon  as  he  came  thither,  the  maiden  gave  up  the  ghost. 
Then  they  all  wept,  that  were  within, 
and  the  holy  man  spake  to  her  father  thus, 
'  Undertake  now  truly,  Rufus,  and  promise  me  with  an  oath,       104 
if  thy   daughter   now   be    made   whole,   that   thou    wilt   permit 

her 
to  follow  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  now  know  His  might.' 
Rufus  answered  him,  '  Behold,  she  is  now  dead ; 
but  if  I  see  that  she  shall  again  live  in  health,  108 

I  will  then  praise  God's  power,  and  she  may  follow  Jesus.' 
AVhile  they  were  all  weeping,  he  went  up  to  the  corpse, 
and  cried  with  faith  to  Christ,  and  said, 

'My  God,  Lord  Jesus,  Wlio  to  my  teacher  Peter  113 

granted  his  desire  whatsoever  he  desired  of  Thee, 
raise  up  now  this  maiden  from  this  cruel  death, 
for  that  she  is  Thy  creature  and  there  is  no  God  but  Thou.' 
She  arose  then  instantly,  and  with  a  cry  exclaimed,  116 

'  Great  is  the  God,  Whom  this  man  preacheth  to  us, 
and  there  is  no  other  God  but  He  alone.' 
Then  rejoiced  the  Christians  in  Christ's  praise, 
and  the  maiden  was  baptized,  together  with  her  mother,         uo 


480         XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOLLONARIS,    MARTYRIS. 

and  eall  heora  hired  samod  .  sume  J^reo  luiiid  manna  . 

and  fela  tSsera  haecSenra  fengon  to  ge-leafan  . 

Se  feeder  swa  tSeah  rufus  .  for  Ipsds  caseres  retSnysse  . 

ne  dorste  ge-openian  pcet  ke  on  drihten  gelyfde  .  124 

ac  he  digellice  lufode  pone  geleaffullan  bisceop  . 

and  mid  wistum  him  Jjenode  .  and  his  dohtor  weartJ  gehadod 

to  godes  Seow-dome  .  and  Jjurh-wunode  mseden  . 

Appollonaris  Jja  wear's  ge-wreged  to  J^am  casere  128 

and  to  witnunge  gelsed  .  and  on  J^am  witum  geandette 

J)3es  hselendes  naman  .  and  sum  liseSen  mann 

pe  him  swytJost  onwann  awedde  Saer-rihte  , 

and  his  lif  ge-endode  yfelum  deatSe  .  132 

pa  woldon  pa  cristenan  bewerian  Jjone  halgan  . 

and  ofslogon  Jjsera  hse'Senra  sume  twa  hund  manna  . 

Se  dema  pa.  het  Isedan  |?one  geleaffullan  bisceop 

into  blindum  cwearterne  .  and  on  bendum  healdan  .  136 

and  him  setes  forwyrnan  pcet  he  swa  ateorode  . 

Ac  godes  engel  com  to  J^am  godes  men  nihtes  . 

and  hine  gereordode  and  mid  his  rsede  geliyrte 

eallum  onlocigendum  .  pe  tSser  on  ymbhwyrfte  wseron  .  140 

Hweet  Sa  on  ]?one  feorSan  daeg  het  se  fore-saeda  dema 

gelsedan  tJone  halgan  on  heardre  racenteage 

feorr  on  wrsec-si'S  .  ferigende^  on  scipe  . 

pser  wses  sum  ae'Selboren  man  .  atelice  hreoflig  .  144 

pa,  axode  se  bisceop  .  wylt  ?5u  beon  hdl  . 

He  cwce'S  ic  wylle  .  and  him  andwyrde  se^  halga  bisceop^; 

Gelyf  on  hselend  crist  .  and  se  hsetSena  him  andwyrde  . 

gif  he  me  gehselcS  he  bitS  min  hselend  god  .  148 

Appollonaris  tJa  hrepode  ]5one  untruman  hreofliun 

on  tSses  hselendes  naman  .  and  he  wear?5  hal  sona 

mid  fiam  (5e  he  clypode  cristes  naman  him  to  fultume  . 

pa  awearp  se  gehseleda  his  hse'Sen-scype  him  fram  .  152 

and  gelyfde  on  tSone  hselend  .  and  mid  geleafan  weartJ  ge-fullod  . 

Hit  gclamp  }?a  sefter  fyrste  .  pcet  ]?a  unge-leaffullan  hset^enan 

'  Leaf  104.  ^  Above  the  line. 


XXII.     SAINT    APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  481 

and  all  their  household  as  well,  some  three  hundred  men, 
and  many  of  the  heathen  received  the  faith. 
However  Rufus  the  father,  on  account  of  the  emperor's  severity, 
durst  not  openly  confess  that  he  believed  in  the  Lord,  124 

but  he  secretly  loved  the  faithful  bishop, 

and   ministered  to   him  with  food,  and  his   daughter  was   con- 
secrated 
to  God's  service,  and  continued  a  virgin. 

Then  Apollinaris  was  accused  to  the  emperor,  128 

and  led  to  the  torture,  and  in  the  torture  he  confessed 
the  Saviour's  name,  and  a  certain  heathen  man, 
who  the  most  fiercely  ojiposed  him,  straightway  went  mad, 
and  ended  liis  life  by  an  evil  deatli.  132 

Then  the  Christians  wished  to  defend  tlie  saint, 
and  massacred,  of  the  heathen,  some  two  hundred  men  ; 
then  the  judge  commanded  men  to  lead  the  faithful  bishop 
into  a  blind  pi-ison,  and  to  keep  him  in  bonds,  13^ 

and  to  deny  him  food,  so  that  he  might  be  famished. 
But  God's  angel  came  to  the  man  of  God  by  night, 
and  fed  him,  and  by  his  words  encouraged 

all  the  onlookers,  who  were  [standing]  around.  140 

Then  on  the  fourth  day  the  aforesaid  judge  commanded 
to  put  the  saint  in  heavier  chains, 
and  to  carry  him  afar  by  ship  into  exile. 

There  was  a  certain  nobleman  horribly  leprous,  144 

and  the  bishop  asked  him,  'Wilt  thou  be  made  whole?' 
He  said,  'I  will,'  and  the  holy  bishop  answered  him, 
'Believe  in  Jesus  Christ;'  and  the  heathen  answered  him, 
'If  He  healeth  me.  He  shall  be  my  God  and  Saviour.'         148 
Apollinaris  then  touched  the  diseased  leper 
in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  immediately  he  was  made  whole, 
while  he  was  calling  on  Christ's  name  to  aid  him. 
Then  the  healed  man  cast  away  his  heathenism  from  him,     152 
and  believed  on  Jesus,  and  with  faith  was  baptized. 

It  befell  after  a  time  that  the  unbelieving  heathen 

31 


483         XXII.    NATALE   SANCTI   APOLLONAEIS,   MARTYRIS. 

ge-bundon  j?one  bisceop  .  and  to  'Ssere  byrig  rauenna 

geleddon  on  bendum  .  and  beoton  hine  wodlice  .  156 

Da  ge-baed  hine  se  bisceop  bealdlice  to  gode  . 

and  heora  deofol-gild  wearS  to-wend  .  and  heoi'a  tempi  to-worpen  . 

pa  gesawon  t5a  hsecSenan  J^aes  halgan  weres  mihte  . 

and  clypodon  mid  gehlyde  .  be  tSam  geleaffullan  were  .  160 

Beo  se  ealda^  arleasa  ardlice  ofslagen  . 

)5urh  Jjone  synd  to-worpene  'Sa  wuldor-fullan  godas  . 

pa  blissodon  ]?a  cristenan  .  and  cwsedon  mid  geleafan  . 

Ipcet  se  ana  is  BO'S  god  Jje  swylce  wundra  wyrcS  .  164 

J>a  betsehton  J)a  hse'Senan  )?one  halgan  war  to  siege  . 

sumum  arleasum  cwellere  se  wses  geciged  taurus  . 

and  se  taurus  ge-samnode  t5a  ceaster-gewaran  him  to  . 

and  axode  j^one  halgan  ]3urh  hwses  mihte  he  ge-fremode         168 

pa.  wundorlican  tacna  .  pcet  swa  micel  werod  him  folgode  . 

Appollonaris  him  awcZwyrde  .  Nis  t5eos  nan   o'Ser  milit 

butan  hselendes  cristes  .  and  we  habbatS  godes  gife 

on  urum  heortuw  .  and  J?a  betwux  o]?rum  sprsecuwi  172 

cwcetS  se  ylca  taurus  to  |3am  arwur^an  were  . 

Ic  hsebbe  senne  sunu  pe  ^ne  ge-seah  nsefre  dseges  leoht  . 

gedo  \)cet  he  geseo  on  j?ines  drihtnes  naman  ^  . 

and  we  sona  gelyfaS  p(Et  he  is  sotSlice  god  .  176 

elles  we  ?5e  for-bsernatS  for  ©iimm  deopuw  gyltum  . 

Da  cwce^  se  bisceop  him  to  .  Cume  se  blinda  to  me  . 

pa  com  se  blinda  him  to  .  and  he  cwoe'S  mid  geleafan  . 

On  J?3es  hselendes  naman  geopena  j^in  eagan  180 

and  geseoh  J?urh  hine  .  and  he  sona  weartS  hal 

beorhte  locigende  .  seSe  blind  wses  geboren  . 

Hi  wundrodon  pa  ealle  .  and  anmodlice  cwsedon 

pcet  se  wsere  soS  god  J?e  swylce  wundra  worhte  .  184 

and  manega  ]?a  gelyfdon  ]5urh  (5a  mihte  on  god  . 

Taurus  pa  brohte  J?one  bisceop  digellice  . 

of  tSses  folces  gehlyde  to  sumum  his  landa  *  . 

157,  178, 186.  V.  biscop. 

'  ealde,  alt.  to  ealda.        ^  Leaf  104,  back.        ^  namen,  alt.  to  naman. 
*  lande,  alt.  to  landa. 


XXII.     SAINT   APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  488 

bound  the  bishop,  and  led  him  iu  bonds 

into  the  city  of  Ravenna,  and  beat  him  furiously.  156 

Then  the  bishop  commended  himself  earnestly  to  God, 
and  their  heathen    idol  was  destroyed,  and   their   temple   over- 
thrown. 
Then  the  heathen  saw  the  holy  man's  power, 
and  cried  out  with  loud  tumult  against  the  faithful  man,       160 
'Let  the  old  impious  wretch  be  instantly  put  to  death, 
through  whom  are  overthrown  the  wonderful  gods.' 
Then  the  Christians  rejoiced,  and  cried  in  faith, 
that  He  alone  is  the  true  God,  Who  worketh  such  wonders.         164 
Then  the  heathen  delivered  the  holy  man  to  be  slain 
to  a  certain  wicked  tormentor,  who  was  called  Taurus; 
this  Taurus  assembled  the  citizens  to  him, 

and  asked  the  saint  by  whose  power  he  performed  168 

the  wonderful  signs,  that  so  great  a  crowd  followed  him. 
Apollinaris  answered  him,  'This  is  no  other  power 
but  Jesus  Christ's,  and  we  have  God's  grace 
within  our  hearts,'  and  thereon,  amongst  other  speeches,         172 
said  the  same  Taurus  to  the  venerable  man, 
'  I  have  a  son  who  never  saw  the  light  of  day  ; 
cause  him  to  see  in  the  Lord's  name, 

and  we  will  straightway  believe  that  He  is  truly  God;  .         176 
otherwise  we  will  bum  thee  for  thy  great  guilt.' 
Then  said  the  bishop  to  him,  'Let  the  blind  man  come  to  me;' 
and  with    that   the    blind    man   came   to    him,    and   he   said   in 

faith, 
'  In  the  name  of  Jesus,  open  thine  eyes,  1 80 

and  see  by  His  means;'    and  immediately  he  was  made  whole; 
seeing  clearly,  who  had  been  born  blind. 
Then  they  all  marvelled,  and  unanimously  said 
that  He  was  the  true  God,  Who  wrought  such  wonders  ;        184 
and  through  the  miracles  many  believed  on  God. 
Then  Taurus  brought  the  bishop  secretly, 
out  of  the  people's  tumult,  to  one  of  his  estates, 

31-2 


484         XXII.    NATALE    SANCTI   APOLLONARIS,    MARTYRIS. 

and  hine  pser  afedde  feower  gear  mid  wistum  .  i88 

Syx  raila  fram  rauenna  .  and  hine  soliton  ]?a  cristenan  . 

and  his  lare  hlyston  mid  geleafan  georne  . 

And  ealle  Sa  untruman  ])e  him  oft  to  comon 

wurdon  gehaelede  .  and  ham  gesunde  cyrdon  .  192 

pa  sendon  tSa  hsecSengildan  mid  hetelicum  ge'Sance 

serende  to  J^am  casere  .  pcet  he  acwellan  hete 

Jjone  halgan  hisceop  .  pcet  heora  biggencgas  ne  wurdon 

mid  ealle  adwaescte  .  Tpurh.  t5one  drihtnes  bydel  .  196 

Da  sende  se  casere  sona  him  J)is  gewrit  . 

Gif  senig  man  gremige  ure  godas  dyrstiglice 

gebete  he  wicS  hi  .  otSSe  he  beo  adraefed 

awseg  of  'Seere  byrig  .  for^an  pe  hit  ne  biS  na  rihtlic  200 

Ipcet  we  wrecon  ure  godas  .  ac  hi  wrecatS  hi  sylfe 

gif  hi  beotS  astyrode  .  Beo'S  ge  gesunde  . 

pa  h6t  se  burli-ealdor  ^  ]3one  bisceop  him  to  gefeccan  . 

and  axode  hine  sona  .  hwylcere  eawfaestnysse  he  weere  .  204 

swylce  he  cwsede  hweetSer*^  eart  ^  tSu'^  crislen  oSSe  hseSen  . 

Se  dema  hatte  demosten  .  and  he  wses  deofles  biggencga  . 

pa  cwcBcS  se  halga  wer  to  j^am  hae'Senan  desman  . 

Ic  eom  sotSlice  cristen  .  and  sanctus  peteus  me  Iserde  .  208 

and  he  me  hider  asende  to  p)issere  ge-sseligan  byrig  . 

pcet  Surh  |38es  hselendes  naman  eow  hsel  becume  . 

Demosten  pa.  andwyrde  tSam  arwurSan  halgan  . 

Hwset  sceall  hit  swa  lang-sum  .  efne  nu  is  se  tima  .  212 

p<xt  Su  forlgete  J?ine  ydelnysse  and  lac  'Sam  godum  geoffrige  . 

Appollonaris  him  awc^wyrde  .  Ic  offrige  me  sylfne 

for  minum  gastlicum  bearnum  pe  ic  her  gode  gestrynde  . 

and  swa  hw4  swa  hine  ne  gebit  to  |3am  heofonlican  gode  .     216 

se  bits  ecelice  for-demed  on  pam  ecan  fyre  . 

and  tSa  t5e  on  god  gelyfacS  and  mid  geleafan  beot5  gefullode  . 

}5a  habbatS  j^a  ecean  reste  .  and  unawendendlice  welan  . 

Hwset  Sa  demosten  deoflice  weartS  gehdt-hyrt  .  220 

and  betsehte  Jjone  halgan  sumum  Iiundredes  ealdre 

to  healdenne  on  cwearterne  .  o^pcet  he  hine  acwealde  . 

*  Alt.  to  burhge  (/o?'burge)  ealdor.         ^  Above  the  line.         ^  Leaf  105. 


XXII.     SAINT   APOLLINARIS,   MARTYR.  485 

six  miles  from  Eavenna,  and  he  there  sustained  him  i88 

four  years  with  food  ;    and  the  Christians  sought  him, 

and  listened  earnestly  to  his  teaching  with  faith  ; 

and  all  the  sick  who  oft  came  to  him 

were  healed,  and  returned  home  in  sound  health.  193 

Then  sent  the  idolaters,  with  enraged  mind, 

a  message  to  the  emperor,  [praying]  that  he  would  command  to  kill 

the  holy  bishop,  lest  their  worship  should  be 

altogether  extinguished  by  the  Lord's  preacher.  196 

And  forthwith  the  Emperor  sent  them  this  writing : 

'  If  any  man  presumptuously  blaspheme  our  gods, 

let  him  make  atonement  to  them,  or  let  him  be  driven 

away  from  the  city,  because  it  is  not  right  200 

that  we  should  avenge  our  gods,  but  they  will  avenge  themselves 

if  they  be  provoked.     Fare  ye  well.' 

Then  the  governor  of  the  city  sent  to  fetch  the  bishop  to  him, 

and  asked  him  straightway,  of  what  religion  he  might  be,       204 

as  if  he  said,  '  Whether  art  thou,  Christian  or  heathen  1 ' 

The   judge    was    called   Demosthenes,    and    he   was    the    devil's 

worshipper. 
Then  said  the  holy  man  to  the  heathen  judge, 
'  I  am  verily  a  Christian,  and  St.  Peter  instructed  me,  208 

and  sent  me  hither  to  this  happy  city, 

that  through  the  name  of  Jesus  salvation  should  come  to  you.' 
Demosthenes  then  answered  the  venerable  Saint, 
'What  needs  there  so  long  delay,  behold,  now  is  the  time     21a 
that  thou  must  forsake  thy  folly,  and  offer  sacrifice  to  the  gods.' 
Apollinaris  answered  him,  '  I  will  offer  myself 
for  my  spiritual  children,  whom  I  have  here  begotten  to  God ; 
and  whosoever  will  not  pray  to  the  heavenly  God,  216 

he  shall  be  eternally  condemned  to  the  everlasting  fire  ; 
and  those  who  believe  in  God,  and  are  baptized  in  faith, 
those  shall  have  the  eternal  rest,  and  unchangeable  riches.* 
Upon  this,  Demosthenes  became  fiendishly  incensed  in  heaiH,  2:0 
and  delivered  the  Saint  to  a  certain  centurion, 
to  keep  in  })rison,  until  he  should  kill  him. 


486         XXII.     NATALE    SANCTI    APOLLONAKIS,    MARTYRIS. 

Se  hundredes  ealdor  wses  tSam  hse^enan  bediglod  . 

and  wses  digellice  cristen  .  and  cwceS  to  J?am  bisceope  .  224 

Min  feeder  ic  cSe  bidde  .  ne  beo  pn  swa  hrsed  to  deatSe  . 

forSan  pe  us  is  Jjin^  lif  nyd-behefe  git  . 

ac  far  pe  nu  digellice  |?0er  tSu  fritS  hsebbe  . 

opp(Bt  'Sises  folces  hatheortnyss  hwset-hwega  beo  gestylled  .      228 

He  eode  'Sa  nihtes  pcet  he  his  life  geburge  . 

ac  tJa  hsetSenan  wurdon  wsere  his  fare 

and  hine  gelsehton  .  and  hine  swa  lange  beoton 

d^pcet  hi  wendon  pcet  he  wsere  dead  .  332 

He  wearcS  swa-)?eah  gebroht  })urh  his  gebrotSra  j^enunge 

eft  to  tSam  cristenum  .  and  he  anbidode  on  life 

seofon  niht  fullice  .  and  hi  fsegre  tihte 

to  j?am  ecan  life  .  and  to  geleafan  georne  .  236 

He  cwoe^  ic  secge  eow  pcet  swdra  ehtnysse  becumacS 

cfer  pa  cristenan  for  cristes  naman  . 

ac  sefter  ^j^sere  ehtnysse  biS  eft  sybb  forgifen  . 

and  tSa  caseras  bugaS  to  cristes  geleafan  ,  340 

and  selc  deofolgild  bi'S  adilegod  mid  ealle  . 

swa  pcet  man  freolice  mot  msersian  J?one  selmihtigan  god^ 

geond  ealne  middan-eard  .  and  him  Mc  offrian  . 

and  se  'Se  on  geleafan  ]?urhwuna(5  .  se  leofacS  i  on  ecnysse  .  244 

-^fter  tSyssere  tihtinge  .  and  o'Srum  manegum  sprsecum  . 

gewdt  se  lialga  wer  of  worulde  to  gode  . 

mid  J5am  he  A  wunaS  on  Jjeere  ecean  eadignysse'  . 

and  his  leorning-cnihtes  ledon  his  lie  arwurSlice  348 

on  ane  stsenene  |?ruh  .  and  seo  stod  wiS  J)one  weall  . 

Twam  lees  'Sryttig  geara*  he  wses  heora  bisceop 

on  manegum  ehtnyssum  .  |?am  selmihtigan  jseowigende  . 

and  his  edlean  bi'S  nu  ende-leas  for'Sy  .  252 

mid  )7am  selmihtigan  gode  .  j^e  on  ecnysse  rixatS  .  AMEN  , 

^  Above  the  line.  ^  Leaf  105,  back.  '  ecan  wuldre, 

alt.  to  ecean  eadignysse.  *  geare,  alt.  to  geara. 


XXII.     SAINT  APOLLINARIS,    MARTYR.  487 

The  centurion  was  unknown  to  the  heathen  man, 

and  was  secretly  a  Christian,  and  said  to  the  bishop,  324 

'  My  father,  I  pray  thee,  be  not  thou  so  hasty  for  death, 

because  thy  life  is  yet  needful  to  us ; 

but  go  thou  now  secretly  where  thou  mayst  have  peace, 

until  this  people's  rage  be  somewliat  stilled.'  228 

Then  went  he  by  night  that  he  might  save  his  life ; 

but  the  heathen  men  were  ware  of  his  journey, 

and  caught  him,  and  beat  him  for  so  long  a  time 

until  they  thought  that  he  was  dead.  333 

He  was  nevertheless  brought,  by  the  ministration  of  his  brethren, 

again  to  the  Christians,  and  he  continued  in  this  life 

fully  seven  nights,  and  he  sweetly  and  fervently 

allured  them  to  the  eternal  life,  and  to  the  faith.  336 

He  said,  'I  tell  you  that  grievous  persecution  shall  come 

upon  the  Christians  for  Christ's  name; 

but  after  the  pei'secution  shall  peace  again  be  given, 

and  the  emperors  shall  bow  themselves  to  the  faith  of  Christ,     240 

and  all  heathen  worship  shall  be  utterly  destroyed, 

so  that  men  may  freely  worship  the  Almighty  God 

throughout  all  the  earth,  and  offer  sacrifice  to  Him  ; 

and  he  who  abideth  in  the  faith,  shall  live  for  ever.'  344 

After  this  exhortation,  and  many  other  words, 

the  holy  man  departed  from  the  world  to  God, 

with  "Whom  he  ever  dwelleth  in  the  everlasting  blessedness  ; 

and  his  disciples  laid  his  corpse  honorably  248 

in  a  stone  coffin  ;  and  it  stood  against  the  wall. 

For  two  years  less  than  thirty  he  was  their  bishop, 

serving  the  Almighty  in  many  persecutions, 

and  therefore  is  his  reward  now  endless  253 

with  the  Almighty  God,  who  reigneth  for  ever.     Amen.  253 


488  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 


XXIII. 

DE  SEPTEM  DORMIENTIBUS. 

[N.  B.  This  Homily  has  several  slight  corrections,  and  is  printed  in  the 
corrected  form.  The  original  errors,  being  mere  slips,  are  not  worth  pointing 
out,  except  occasionally.  A  few  collations  are  given  from  0.(  =  Otho.  B.  lo), 
which  is  very  imperfect.] 

FTer  efne  oil-gin's  Jjsera  eadigra  ^  seofon  slaepera  tSi'owung  .  Sara 
■■— *-  haligra  naman  scinaS  on  heofenum  .  lihtaS  eac  on  eor'San 
beorhte  mid  crfstenum  mannum  .  Dara  is  se  forma  his  gef^rena 

4  heretoga  Maximianus  .  Sser-to  se  oj^er  malchus  .  se  ge]?^nsuma  . 
and  se  t5ridda  ]33er-to  martinianus  .  Jjonne  se  feorSa  dionisius  . 
se  halga  iohannes  fifta  .  j^onne  Sses  sixtan  serapliion  nama  is 
set  nextan  .  Sees  seofej^an  constantinus  .  Dara  seofen  haligra  freols- 
8  tfd  biS  on  geare  fif  nihton  ser  hldfmgessan  .  On  Sam  gefyrn 
"  gewftenan  cSaere  mycelan  ehtnysse  timan  .  })a  Sa  hsetSenan  menn 
cristendomes  leoman  mid  ealle  a-dwseHcan  woldon  .  and  selcne 
m^^ne  ofer  eorSan  adylgian  ,  and  pa  Sa  ^adigan  martyras  for  his 

12  naman  maenig-fealde  earfoSnyssa^  Sdfedon  .  Da  decius  se  J)weora 
^heold  rice  ofer  call  romana  rice  .  and  him  for  Sissere  worulde 
wel  on  hand  eode  poet  he  godes  jja  gecorenan  witnode  .  and  hi 
on  yrmSum  getintregode  .  and  hi   buton  gewande  getucude  eall 

1 6  swa  he  wolde  .  Da  gelamp  hit  set  sumum  cyrre  poet  he  ferde 
into  anre  byrig  pe  man  const  antinopolim  nemnetS .  seo  wses  heafod- 
burh  on  grec-lande  .  and  of  Ssere  he  for  in-to  cartdgine  .  and 
Sanon  in-to  efese  .  Da    he  Sa  J?reo  burga  gefaren    hsefde  .  tSa 

20  h6t  gelangian  him  to  swiSe  hraSe  ealle  Sa  burhwdra  togsedere . 
CwsetS  poet  he  gemot  wiS  hi  habban  wolde  .  Sona  swa  hi  past 
ge-axodon  Sa  pe  on  god  be-lyfdon  .  Sa  wurdon  hi  ealle  Searle 
afyihte  .  and  heora  gesomnunga  ealle  wurdon  sona  to-sceacerode 

24  [sic)  .  and  pa,  halgan  sacerdas  .  and  ealle  Sa  godan  faerlice  ge-yrmde 
hreowlice  wurdon .  He  pa  decius  se  cdsere  pa  he  for  into  ^fese 
mid  Srymme  and  mid  prasse  .  he  Sa  his  heortan  dhof  swa  tipp 
ofer  his  mseSe  swilce  he  god  waere .     Ongan  Sa  timbrian  deofol- 

28  gyld   on    cirican   .  and  bead  poet  mid   him  Sser-rihte  aelc  man 

*  MS.  eadriga.  ^  earfe'Snyssa,  alt.  to  earfoSnyssa.  '  Leaf  106. 


XXIII.    THE  SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  489 


XXIII. 


JULY  27.     THE  SEVEN  SLEEPERS. 

Behold  here  beginneth  the  Passion  of  the  Seven  Blessed 
Sleepers,  the  names  of  which  saints  shine  in  heaven,  and  also 
gleam  brightly  on  earth  among  Christian  men.  The  first  of  them, 
Maximianus,  is  the  leader  of  his  companions ;  the  second  beside  4 
[him  is]  Malchus  the  obedient ;  and  the  third  beside,  Martini- 
anus;  then  the  fourth,  Dionysius;  the  holy  Johannes,  fifth ;  then 
the  name  of  the  sixth  is  Seraphion ;  and  lastly,  of  the  seventh, 
Constantine. 

The  festival  of  the  Seven  Saints  is,  in  the  year,  five  days  before  8 
Loaf-Maes  [Aug.  1.] 

In  the  olden  time,  long  past,  of  the  great  persecution,  when  the 
heathen  men  desired  altogether  to  quench  the  beams  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  to  destroy  every  memorial  over  the  earth,  and  when 
the  blessed  martyrs  suffered  manifold  distresses  for  His  name  ; —  12 
when  Decius  the  perverse  held  sway  over  all  the  Roman  empire, 
and  things  went  well  in  his  hands  as  regards  this  world,  so  that 
he  tortured  the  chosen  of  God,  and  afflicted  them  with  miseries, 
and  punished  them  without  fear  just  as  he  would ;- -then  it  16 
happened,  at  a  certain  season,  that  he  went  into  a  city  which 
men  name  Constantinople,  which  was  the  chief  city  in  Greece, 
and  thence  he  journeyed  to  Carthage,  and  thence  to  Ephesus. 

When  he  had  gone  to  the  three  cities,  then  he  bade  summon  to 
him  very  speedily  all  the  citizens  together,  saying  that  he  desired  20 
to  hold  a  council  with  them.  As  soon  as  those  who  believed  in 
God  learnt  that,  then  were  they  all  exceedingly  afraid,  and  all 
their  congregations  were  immediately  disturbed,  and  the  holy 
priests  and  all  the  good  men  became  on  a  sudden  grievously  24 
troubled.  Then  he,  Decius  the  emperor,  when  he  marched  into 
Ephesus  with  magnificence  and  pomp,  lifted  up  his  heart  greatly 
above  measure  as  if  he  were  God.  Then  began  he  to  erect  idols 
in  the  churches,  and  bade  that  everv  man  should  forthwith  offer  28 


490  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM   DORMIENTIBUS. 

be  his  heafde  deofle  sceolde  ofFrian  .  and  gehwa  dyde  swa  .  for 
t^ses  caseres  ege  .  and  elles  ne  dorston  .  ac  selc  hine  sylfne  on 
lichaman  and  on  sawle  mid  ]5ain  hsejjengylde  earmlice  gefylde  . 

32  Sser  tSser  senig  deofol-gyld  wses  arsered  .  eall  seo  burh-waru  fram 
dsege  to  daege  be  (5ses  caseres  bebode  com  togaedere  .  and  man 
Blob  Saer  hrycSera  and  gehwilces  cynnes  nytenu  .  and  tSs&r  geond 
eall  tSa  hsejjenan  byrnende  gleda  streawodon  ,  and  tSaeron-uppan 

36  deofle  offrodon  .  and  tSa  Jjicnyssa  smices  .  and  t5a  brse?5as  tSses 
flsesces  stigon  upp  on  selce  healfe  geond  pa,  byrig  eall  swilc  hit 
mist  wsere  .  pcet  man  nd,n  ]?ingc  for-neah  Sser  geseon  ne  mihte 
buton  smic  ^aenne  .  and  })onne  tJa  hse]?enan  on  swilcon  deofol- 

40  scinne  ^  blissedon  .  ?5onne  weopon  and  geomredon  }?a  pe  on  god 
be-lyfdon  .  and  hi  on  tSsere  msestan  dreorignysse  wunedon  pcet  hi 
mid  heora  eagum  swilce  yrmtJa  sefre  ges6on  sceoldon  swilce  hi 
tSser   gesdwon  .  pcet   sefre   on   mancynne    swa   mycelne    anweald 

44  deofol  habban  sceolde  .  ne  hi  niston  hwaet  hi  his  dydon  .  ne  hi 
na  mare  don  ne  mihton  .  buton  bitere  tiaras  hi  symle  aleton 
and  hnipiende  eodon  .  and  hi  sylfe  be-hyddon  Jsser  peer  hi  mihton  . 
Ac  fserlice  ymbe  Sreo  niht  sende  se  cdsere  his  bydelas  and  bead 

48  pcet  man  swiSe  georne  sceolde  cepan  cristenra  manna  .  and 
gehwa  Jjser  he  mihte  heora  be  f^ore  hente  .  and  gif  man  ahwer 
of-axian  mihte  pcet  hi  manna  senig  on  genere  heolde  pcet  se  wsere 
his   heafdes   scyldig  .  and    se  pe  hi  ameldode  pcet  se  wsere  my- 

52  celre  niede  wyrSe .  Hi  Sa  pa  bydelas  and  feala  ocSre  eall  swa 
hi  to  (Sam  sceatte  hopedon  .  ferdon  and  sohton  swa  hwser  swa  hi 
mihton  findan  J^a  cristenan  menn  .  and  hu  hi  mihton  Sam  casere 
ge-cweman  pcet  hi  sumne  sceatt  set  him  gelsehton  ;   and  hi  (Sa 

56  lisej^enan  men  Jjonne  hi  cristene  men  ahwser  fundon  .  hi  hi  ut 
drifon  .  and  him  beforan  feredon  swilce  lytle  gse'rstapan  .  and  to 
t^am  folce  Iseddon  'Sser  ealle  men  hsecSen-gyld  mid  t5ara  cdsere 
wurtSedon  .  and  pa  cristenan   nyddon  pcet  hi  mid   heom^  deofle 

60  on  hand  gangan  sceoldon  .  and  hi  sume  swa  dydon  .  swa  heom  * 

earme  pa  gelamp  '5a  j?a  hi  gesAwon  swa  msenig-fealde  6gan  on 

mistlicum  witum  .  tSa  wurdon  hi   sona   un-geheorte   and   feollon 

adune   astrehte  .  and  deofle  off'redon  be-foran  eallum   cSam  folce 

^  Leaf  106,  back,  ^  -seine,  alt.  to  -scinne.  '  him,  alt.  to  heom. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.     '  491 

sacrifice  to  the  devil  with  him,  on  pain  of  capital  punishment ; 
and  everyone  did  so  for  dread  of  the  emperor,  and  durst  not  do 
otherwise  ;  but  each  one  defiled  himself  miserably,  in  body  and 
soul,  with  that  idolatry.     Wheresoever  any  idol  was  set  up,  all  3^ 
the  citizens  came  together  from  day  to  day  according  to  the  em- 
peror's commands,  and  they  slew  there  heifers  and  cattle  of  every 
kind ;  and  there  the  heathen  strewed  burning  coals  all  about,  and 
thereupon  offered  to  the  devil ;  and  the  thickness  of  the  smoke  and  3^ 
the  smell  of  the  flesh  rose  up  on  every  side  throughout  the  city, 
just  as  if  it  were  mist,  so  that  one  could  see  nigh  nothing  there 
save  smoke  alone.    And  while  the  heathen  rejoiced  in  such  diabolic 
delusion,  those  who  believed  in  God  wept  and  lamented,  and  con-  4° 
tinned  in  the  greatest  sadness,  to  think  that  they  should  ever  have 
seen  with  their  eyes  siich  miseries  as  they  saw  there,  and  that  the 
devil  should  ever  have  so  great  dominion  over  mankind  ;  they  knew 
not  what  to  do  on  that  account,  nor  could  they  do  more  than  let  fall  44 
bitter  tears  continually,  and  go  about  bowed  down,  and  hide  them- 
selves wheresoever  they  could.     But  suddenly,  in  about  three  days, 
the  emperor  sent  his  heralds,  and  commanded  that  men  should 
watch  the  Christian  men  very  zealously,  and  that  each  man  should  48 
seize  them  wherever  he  could  on  pain  of  death ;  and  if  they  could 
anywhere  find  out  that  any  man  had  protected  them,  he  should  be 
guilty  of  death ;  and  he  who  betrayed  them  should  be  worthy  of 
great  reward.      Then   they,    the    heralds,   and   many   others,   as  52 
hoping  for  the  pay,  went  and  sought  the  Christians  wherever  they 
could  find  them,  and  tried  to  please  the  emperor,  to  receive  some 
pay   from   him ;    and  these   heathen   men,  when  they   anywhere 
found  Christian  men,  drove  them  out,  and  carried  them  before  56 
them  like  little   grasshoppers,   and  brought  them  to  the  people 
where  all  men  were  worshipping   idols  with  the   emperor,  and 
compelled   the    Christians    to    submit    to    the   devil   like   them- 
selves ;   and  some  of  them  did  so — so  miserable  was  their  lot ;  60 
for   when    they    saw   so    manifold    terrors    in    divers   torments, 
they    soon   became  disheartened,    and   fell    down    prostrate,  and 
sacrificed  to  tlie  devil  before  all  the  people,  however  much  they 


492  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

64  swa  '  him  sefre  se  sitS  hreowan  mihte  .  and  Jja  otSre  cristenan  pe 
tSaer  ge-hydde  waeron  pa.  hi  swilce  yrmtSa  ^  ge-hyrdon  .  hi  biterlice 
on  wope  heofodon  .  and  tSara  sawla  sarlice  bem8endon'[}3e  to 
heofona  rice  faran  sceoldon  .  pcet  hi  gode  swa  earmlice  set- 
68  lumpon  .  ac  ]?a  (Se  anraedlice  gelyfdon  ^  J3a  Se  cSider  geleedde 
waeron  and  fseste  heora  geleafan  on  god  hsefdon  .  and  for  nanes 
mannes  ge-preate  heora  drihtne  wiSsacan  noldon  .  Jjam  man  eac  nan 
Jjingc  ne  wandode  .  ac  hi  to  eallre  yrm'Se  getucode  .  and  heora  lima 

72  man  ealle  to-braed  selc  fram  oJ)rum  .  eall  swa  windes  blsed  swseptS 
dust  of  eorcSan  .  and  hi  man  holdode  and  hi  ealle  hricode  .  swilce 
o'Ser  waeterfldd  swa  fleow  heora  blod  .  and  'Sa  heafod-leasan  man 
liengc  on  tSa  port-weallas  .  and  man  sette  heora  heafda  swilce  ojsra 

76  tSeofa  buton  tSani  port-weallon  on  Sam  heafod-stoccum  .  and  Sser 
flugon  sona  to  hrocas  .  and  hremmas  .  and  feala  cynna  fugelas  . 
and  J?ara  haligra  martyra  eagan  ut  a-haccedou  .  and  flugon  eft 
in-to  Ssere  byrig  geond  ]7a  port-weallas  .  and  to-sliton  Sa  halgan 

80  godes  dyrlingas  .  and  on  heora  blodigon  bilon  Ssera  martyra 
flsesc  bgeron  .  Searmas  and  inneweard  .  and  pcet  eall  frseton  . 
EarfoS-fynde  wses  Sar  se  man  pe  swilc  ne  mihte  hreowan  .  nses 
Sser  eac  nan  man  on  fare  J^e  gryre  and  ege  fore  ne  stode  .  for 

84  Sam  mycclum  yrmSum  pe  hi  Sser  gesawon ;  wundor-lic  wses  pcet 
martyr-cynn  and  wiS  deofol  Strang  gewinn  .  Jjser  wses  godes  ege 
gesewen  and  open  on  fulre  dsede .  Swilc  mihte  campdom  beon  . 
swilce  man  Saer  mihte  geseon  .  *pcei  hi  god  inweardlice  lufedou 

88  }7a  hi  for  Ssere  lufe  his  naman  yrmSe  ge-]7afedon  .  and  ]?one  sylfan 
deajj  to  San  swiSe  Jpafedon  .  and  na  pcet  an  mse'nan  mihton  and 
heora  eorfoSa  ^  behreowsian  .  ac  gif  we  Saer  waeron  we  mihton 
gehyran  swa  swa  ealle  Sa  ge-hyrdon  pe  Saer  aet  waeron  .  poet  waes 

92  on-mang  Sam  mycclan  geSiyle  .  and  on  Sam  egeslican  ge-]?ryngce 
Sa  man  ]?a  martyras  cwylmde  .  pe  wolde  ]?incean  faerunga  swilce 
ealle  Sa  anlicnyssa  Se  on  j^aere  byrig  to  godon  geond  ealle  gesette 
waeron   Saet   hi   ealle   aet-gaedere   on-cwaedon  ,  and  anre  stemne 

96  clypedon  .  pcet  hi  mid  ealle  aweg  Sanon  woldon  for  ]?am  mycclan  ® 

'  Leaf  107.  ^  yrniSe,  alt.  to  yrmSa.  '  gelifdon,  all.  to  gelyfdon. 

♦  Leaf  107,  back.  '  eorfe'Sa,  alt.  to  eorfoOa.  *  mycclum,  alt.  to 

mycclan. 


XXIII.    THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  493 

might  rue  the  time  ;  and  the  other  Christians  who  were  hidden  64 
there,  when  they  heard  of  such  miseries,  lamented  bitterly  with 
weeping,  and  sorely  bemoaned  the  souls  of  those  who  should  have 
gone  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  in  that  they  had  fallen  away  from 
God  so  miserably.     But  those  who  steadfastly  believed,  when  they  68 
were  led  thither,  and  had  their  faith  firm  in  God,  and  would  not 
deny  their  Lord  for  any  man's  threats,  these  the  heathen  respected 
not  a  whit,  but  punished  them  by  every  aflBiction,  and  sundered  all 
their  limbs  one  from  the  other,  even  as  the  blowing  of  the  wind  72 
sweepeth  dust  from  the  earth,  and  they  cut  tliera  up  and  mocked  (?) 
them  all,  and,  like  a  second  deluge,  so  flowed  their  blood ;  and 
they  hung  the  headless  on  the  town-walls,  and  set  their  heads,  like 
those  of  others  who  were  thieves,  outside  the  town-walls  upon  76 
head-stakes  ;  and  there  immediately  flew  thither  rooks  and  ravens 
and  birds  of  many  kinds,  and  hacked  out  the  eyes  of  the  holy 
martyrs,  and  flew  again  into  the  city  over  the  town-walls,  and  rent 
in  pieces  the  holy  beloved  ones  of  God,  and  in  their  bloody  bills  80 
bare  the  flesh  of  the  martyrs,  the  entrails  and  inward  parts,  and 
devoured  them  all. 

It  was  hard  to  find  the  man  there  who  could  not  lament  such 
[a  sight],  neither  was  there  any  man  upon  whom,  in  passing  by, 
horror  and  awe  did  not  come,  for  the  great  miseries  which  each  one  84 
there  saw ;  wonderful  was  that  martyr-army,  and  strong  the  strife 
with  the  devil ;  there  was  the  fear  of  God  manifest  and  evident  in 
that  foul  deed. 

Such  a  warfare  would  take  place  that  men  might  there  see,  that 
they  loved  God  from  their  inmost  heart,  since  they  endured  affliction  88 
for  the  love  of  His  name,  and  suffered  death  itself  bo  severely  ; 
and  not  only  would  they  lament  and  compassionate  their  suff'erings, 
but  if  we  had  been  there  we  might  have  heard,  (even  as  all  those 
heard  who  were  there  present,  that  is,  among  the  great  crowd  and  9^ 
in  the  awful  throng,  when  they  were  torturing  the  martyrs),  that 
it  would  seem  on  a  sudden  as  if  all  the  images  that  were  set  up  as 
gods  all  about  the  town,  all  spoke  together  and  cried  with  one 
voice,  that  they  desired  [to  go]  quite  away  thence,  because  of  the  96 


494  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

yrm'Sum  j^e  tSa  godes  halgan  for  heora  (Singan  |3olodon  .  and 
swilce  J?a  strseta  ^  ealle  eac  on-cwsedon  .  for  tSam  halgan  bAnum 
\)e  to-worpene  him  on-uppan  geond  ealle  t5a  byrig  lagon  .  Eac 

loo  swilce  J^a  burh-weallas  cwlcedon  and  bifedon  .  swilce  hi  feallan 
woldon  for  pam.  halgum  lichamum  pe  on  heom  *  geond  J^a  birig 
on  selce  healfe  hangedon.  Ld  hwset  maeg  beon  wop  oSSe  sarignys . 
gyf  Jpset  nses  se  msesta  segSres  .  o]3)?e  hwset  mseg  beon  geomrung 

104  and  wdnung  gyf  pcet  nses  se  fulla  aegSres  .  pa  sitSj^an  man  pus  ]5a 
halgan  haefte  and  gebende  and  hi  man  swang  .  and  bsernde  .  and 
swilce  ofsticode  swin  holdode  .  and  to  ealre  yrmSe  tucode  .  and 
tSa  magas  beheoldon   hu  heora  magas   (5rowodon  .  and  on  tSaw* 

108  port-weallon  to  waefersyne  hangodon  .  and  se  broSor  beheold  his 
swuster  on  wite  .  and  seo  swuster  beheold  hire  brotSor  on  yrmcSe . 
se  fseder  wi'S-soc  his  bearne  .  and  pcet  beam  wiS-soc  Jjone  faeder  . 
and  set  nextan  selc  freond  witJ-soc  otSres  for  'Sam  micclan  egsan 

112  ]7e  hi  'Saer  gesdvvon  .  and  heom^  for  An  ]?a  witv^  gemynte  ^wseron  . 
buton  hi  tJser-rihte  urnon  and  Sam  deofol-gylde  geoffrodon  and 
drihtne  wi'Ssocon  .  pa  ne  mihte  na  lengc  manna  senig  hine  sylfne 
bedyrnan  .  ac   gehwa   to   sseles   moste   clipian  and  openlice  mid 

116  dsedum  cytSan  .  to  hw3e]?eran  hlafordscipe  he  wolde  gebugan  .  pe 
to  ures  ecean  drihtnes  .  pe  to  (5ses  awyrgedan  deofles  ,  hweetSer 
him  leofre  wsere  pe  he  tSam  witum  set-wunde  .  pe  he  hi  for  godes 
naman    acome.     Da   wurdon   tSser    ameldode    seofon   halige    men 

1 20  gode  getreowe  .  'Ssera  naman  we  awriton  on  'Ssere  frum-sprsece 
heora  halgan  'Srowunge ;  hi  wseron  genietfaeste  on  ge-leafan  J^ses 
lifigendan  godes  suna  .  and  his  tJset  halige  rode-tacn  on  heora 
lichoman  getreowlice  bseron  .  pa  J?a  hi  gesawon  'Sa  msenig-fealdan 

124  wAwan  pe  cristes  ]3a  gecorenan  dseg-hwamlice  for  his  naman  Safe- 
don  and  J?oledon  .  hi  ]5onne  Sa  seofon  geomredon  .  and  weopon  . 
and  heora  nebwlite  ]?urh  Sa  mycclan  sorhge  mid  ealle  ahlsensode  . 
and  seo  wlitige  fsegernes  heora  geogoS-hades  weornode  and  wAnode^ . 

128  and  hi  on  ealne  weg  on  wseccan  .  and  on  fsestenum  .  and  on 
halgum  gebedum  geomrigende  Idgon  .  and  pcet  eall  hi  dydon  for 
tSaes  caseres  tSingon  for  Jjon  hi  him  ser  on  hirede  swiSe  neah- 

^  Btraete,  alt.  to  strata.  *  him,  alt.  to  heom.  ^  wite,  alt.  to  witv 

(«=»witu).  *  Leaf  108.  '  iieac?  wanode. 


XXIII.    THE    SEVEN   SLEEPEBS.  495 

great  miseries  which  God's  Saints  suffered  on  their  account ;  and  as 
if  all  the  streets  spoke  likewise,  because  of  the  holy  bones  which 
were  thrown  upon  them,  and  lay  all  about  the  city ;  yea,  as  if  the 
city-walls  quaked  and  trembled  as  though  they  would  fall,  on  ac-  loo 
count  of  the  holy  bodies  which  hung  upon  them,  on  all  sides, 
throughout  the  city.     Behold  !  what  can  weeping  or  sorrow  be,  if 
that  was  not  the  greatest  of  both,  or  what  can  lamentation  or  be- 
wailing be,  if  that  was  not  the  fullness  of  both,  when  afterwards  104 
they  thus  seized  and  bound  the  Saints,  and  scourged  and  burnt 
them  and  cut  them  up  like  stuck  swine,  and  tormented  them  with 
every  misery  ?   And  kinsmen  beheld  how  their  kinsmen  suffered  and 
hung  on  the  town- walls  for  a  spectacle;  and  the  brother  beheld liis  108 
sister  in  torment,  and  the  sister  beheld  her  brother  in  misery ;  the 
father  forsook  his  child,  and  the  child  forsook  the  father,  and  at 
last  every  friend  forsook  the  other,  by  reason  of  the  great  horrors 
which  they  saw  there  ;  and  the  tortures  were  specially  intended  for  112 
themselves,  unless  they  straightway  ran  and  sacrificed  to  the  idol  and 
denied  the  Lord.     Then  none  of  the  men  could  any  longer  conceal 
himself,  but  every  one  in  due  time  had  to  proclaim  and  openly 
testify  by  his  deeds  to  which  of  the  two  lordships  he  would  bow,  116 
whether  to  that  of  our  eternal  Lord,  or  of  the  accursed  devil ; 
whether  it  were  more  desirable  for  him  to  escape  the  tortures,  or 
to  bear  them  for  God's  name. 

There  were  there  denounced  seven  holy  men,  faithful  to  God,  120 
whose  names  we  wrote  in  the  opening  words  of  their  holy  Passion  ; 
they  were  steadfast  in  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  the  Living  God,  and 
they  faithfully  bare  in  their  bodies  the  sign  of  His  Holy  Cross. 
When  they  saw  the  manifold  woes  which  Christ's  chosen  daily  124 
suffered  and  endured  for  His  name,  then  they,  the  Seven,  lamented 
and  wept ;   and  their  countenances  were  all   made  lean  through 
that  great  sorrow,  and  the  bright  fairness  of  their  youth  faded 
and  waned ;  and  they  in  every  way,  in  watchings,  and  in  fastings,  ug 
and  in  holy  prayers,  lay  lamenting ;  and  they  did  all  this  on  the 
emperor's  account,  because  they  had  been  formerly  his  nearest  fol- 


496  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DOBMIENTIBUS. 

gangele  weeron  .  Jionne  swa  oft  swa  hi  gesavvon  pcet  se  yfela  casere 

132  and  eall  seo  burh-waru  togsedere  comon  Ipcet  Id  onssegednyssa 
deoflan  offrian  woldon  .  hi  Sonne  cSas  seofon  halgan  eodon  him 
on-sundran  paer  hi  cSonne  mihton  .  and  hi  tSonne  astrehton  on 
Ssere  eorSan  .  and  to  gode  hi  gebaedon  Jjcef  he  heora  gehulpe  swa 

136  swa  he  wolde  ;  tSa  gelamp  hit  amang  |?am  pcet  sume  hlosniende 
menn  'Sser  betweonan  eodon  .  and  Jjisra  seofona  georne  heddon  . 
swa  oft  -^  swa  man  gehwilcne  mann  sohte  pcet  he  deofolgylde 
offrian  sceolde  .  and  J?onne  gemetton  hi  Sas  seofon  halgan  halige 

140  cnihias  ealle  get-gaedere  on  anum  bure  to  gode  gebiddende  .  and 
mid  aj>enedum  lichoman  to  him  heora  neode  geomerlice  maenende  . 
and  hi  (5a  godes  fynd  butan  gewande  sona  into  {jam  ciningce 
eodon  .  and  him  t5us  to  cwsedon ;  J^eoda  hlaford  us  se  besorgesta  . 

144  gelinipe  pcet  Su  lange  libban  mote  on  myrh}?e  .  and  on  mserSe 
jjines  cynerices  .  Du  leof  cyningc  leod-scipas  .  Sine  wide  and  side 
}3U  hsetst  pcet  mann  manige  manna  ge-hwilcne  .  pcet  he  Sam 
mseran    gode    offrie  .  and    her    on   gehendnysse    syndon   pe    ]?ine 

148  deorlingas  beon  sceoldon  .  |7e  sylfne  hi  for-fleoc5  .  and  }?ine  hsese 
forseotS  .  and  ealle  setter  gewunan  cristenra  manna  daeg-hwamlice 
offriaS  .  Jjaera  is  se  yldesta  maximianus  .  and  his  six  geferan  pe 
on  Sissere  byrig  synd  yldest  getealde  .  pa,  se  casere  J?is  gehyrde 

152  Sa  weartS  he  J?earle  gedrefed  on  his  mode  .  and  bead  pcet  hi  man 
Sser-rihte  to  him  gelsedde  .  and  hi  sona  "^  comon  mid  floteriendum 
eagum  for  Ssere  micclan  angsumnysse  .  ealle  heora  heafda  wseron 
mid  duste  besyfte  .  wees  J?eh  eall  heora  myne  faest  on  to-hoj)unge 

156  jjges  ecean  di-ihtnes;  pa,  axode  h^  se  casere  and  tSus  clipode  .  hwi 
synd  ge  asceadene  fram  eowra  geferena  gemanan  .  pcet  ge  nun 
bebod  healdan  noldon  .  pcet  ge  Sam  maerum  godum  offrunga  ne 
brohton  ,  ac   nu    ic    eow  bidde  and  aegSer  ge-beode  pcet  ge  hit 

160  geornlice  beginnon  .  and  pcet  swiSe  hra^dlice  gefyllou  .  and  pcet 
buton  gewande  don  swa  ic  eow  be-beode  .  and  swa  ealle  menn 
do]?  wide  on  aeghwilcere  Jjeode ;  Sa  andwyrde  him  an  Saera  cnihta 
maximianus  se  halga  .  dna  for  hi  ealle  .  and  cwaeS  to  J^am  casere 

164  imearhlicere  'stemme  (sic)  .  ^Enne  we  wurSiaS  ecne  drihten  .  Saes 

^  Leaf  108,  back.  ^  sone,  alt.  to  sona.  '  Leaf  109. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  497 

lowers  in  his  household.     Then,  as  often  as  they  saw  the  evil 
emperor  and  all  his  citizens  come  together  desiring  to  offer  sacri-  13a 
fice  to  the  devil,  the  Seven  Saints  went  apart  where  they  could, 
and  then  prostrated  themselves  on  the  earth,  and  prayed  to  God 
that  He  would  help  them  as  He  would.      Then  it  befell  them 
that  some  spying  men  went  amidst  them  and  carefully  observed  136 
these  seven,  whenever  every  man  was  sought  for  that  he  might 
sacrifice  to  the  idol ;  and  so  they  found  these  Seven  Saints,  holy 
youths,  all  together  in  a  chamber  praying  to  God,  and  with  pros- 
trated bodies  sorrowfully  complaining  to  Him  of  their  needs ;  and  140 
they,  those  enemies  of  God,  without  dread  immediately  went  unto 
the  king,  and  spake  thus  to  him;  "Lord  of  the  nations,  our  most 
beloved,  may  it  be  that  thou  mayest  live  long  in  mirth  and  in  the 
glory  of  thy  kingdom  !     Thou,  oh  dear  king  !  dost  command  thy  144 
peoples,  far  and  wide,  that  every  man    shall  be  admonished  to 
off'er  to  the  great  God  ;  and  here,  nigh  at  hand,  are  those  who 
should  be  thy  favorites  ;  they  flee  away  from  thyself,  and  despise  thy 
hest,  and  they  all  daily  offer  sacrifice  after  the  custom  of  Christian  148 
men.      The  chief  of  them  is  Maximianus,  and  his  six  companions, 
who  are  accounted  the  chiefest  in  this  city."     When  the  emperor 
heard  this,  then  he  became  greatly  disturbed  in  mind,  and  bade 
that  they  should  be  brought  straightway  to  him ;  and  immediately  15a 
they  came  with  eyes  streaming  because  of  the  great  anguish ;  all 
their  heads  were  sprinkled  with  dust,  yet  all  their  aff"ection  was 
firm  in  their  trust  of  the  eternal  Lord.     Then  he,  the  emperor, 
asked,  and  thus  cried  ;  "  "Why  are  ye  separated  from  the  society  of  1 56 
your  companions,  that  ye  would  not  keep  my  command,  that  ye  have 
not  brought  off'erings  to  the  great  gods  1     But  now  I  pray  you, 
and  command  each  of  you,  that  ye  zealously  begin  it,  and  very 
quickly  fulfil  it,  and  do  it  without  evasion  as  I  have  commanded  160 
you,  and  as  all  men  do  widely  throughout  every  nation." 

Then  one  of  the  youths,  the  holy  Maximianus,  answered  him 
alone  for  them  all,  and  said  to  the  emperor  with  intrepid  voice ; 
*'  "We  worship  One  Eternal  Lord,  whose  might  filleth  the  heavens  164 

32 


498  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

mihta  gefyllaj?  heofenas  and  eor??an  ;  him  we  offria(5  anum  .  and 
his   <5am   halgan  bearne   hselende   criste  •  ]>e   for   ure   neode   on 
menniscnysse  eode  on  'Sam  halgan   gaste  .  Jje  of  feeder  .  and   of 
i68  suna  .  unasegcendlic  forcS-staep'S  and   ealla   gesceafta   gehalgatS  . 
Jjas  untodseledlican  tSrynnysse  .  we  gebiddajj  mid  eadmodnysse  ; 
J)isan  gode  we  offrunga  gelome  bringaS  .  and  ure  bena  to   him 
sendatS  .  lichaman  and  sawle  clsennysse  .  and  modes  .  and  mu?5es 
172  andetnysse ;  J?as  we  him  beoda}?  gedefe  .  and  j^inon   awyrgedan 
deofolgildan   we   nsefre  nellaS   offrian  .  py  Ises  'Se   we    us   sylfe 
gebringatS   on   fyl'Se  .  and    sicSSan   on   yrmcSe   ^cere   helle ;    gode 
anirm  we  ure  neode  betsecaS  .  and  him  ure  sawle  befsestaS  .  hine 
176  we  nsefre  ne  fo^rsacatS  .  ac  hine  we  wur'Sla]^  gefre  .  Da  decius  se 
casere  "pas  word  gehyrde  .  ?Sa  na  gestod  he  na  selcne  on-sundran  .  ac 
heora  selces  sweord-fsetelsas  he  het  forceorfan  .  and  hi  mid  bendum 
foeste  het  gewriSan  .  and  cwsejj  to  heom  ^  eallum  .  Nu   ge  Ipaxn. 
180  maerum  godum  offrian  nella'S  .  ne  beo  ge  m.6  nsefre  heonon-fortS 
swa  wurc5e  ne  swa  leofe  swa  ge  ser  wseron  .  ac  fram  me  ge  beotS 
aseyrede  .  and  fram  selcere  myrhjje  .  oS}?0et  ic  eft  eow  gestande 
and  ic  tSonne  wit?  eow  stiSlicor  aginne  .  'Sonne  ic  tdle  wiS  eow 
184  habban  wylle  ;  Ne  'SincJ?  hit  me  peah  nan  rsed  .  ac  ic  eow  Isete 
unbeheafdod   pcet   ge   swa   earme   eow  sylfe  and  eowre   tSeondan 
geogo?5e  fordo)?  and  for-spillaj)  .  on  witon  and  on  wawon  and  on 
mistlicum  yrm(5um  .  Ac  ic  eow  nu  gyt  sumes  fyrstes  geann  pcet 
j88  ge  eow  sylfe  be]?encean  .  and  on  beteran  mode  gebringan  .  pcet 
ge   eower   pcef  wlitige  lif  magon  generian;  pa  se  casere  hi  Sus 
gesprecen  hsefde  .  pa  for'San  pe  hi  him  leofe  wseron  .  h6  het  hi 
eft  ealle^  unbindan  .  and  unbundene  aweg  forlsetan  pcet  hi  frige 
J92  moston  faran  aweg  swa  hwider  swa   hi  woldon  .  and    se   casere 
for  to  o'Sre  burhware  worhte  poet  sylfe  pcet  he  ser  beeode  .  cris- 
tene  menu  drehte  swa  he  swi'Sost  mihte.     Maximianus  'Sa  se  godes 
halga .  and  his  six  geferan  gode  'Sa  gecorenan .  sycSSan  hi  fyrstos  (sic) 
196  on-fengcon  and  senigne  timan  hsefdon  .  pa  halgan  weorc   pe    hi 
ser   begunnon  .  ser   hi   beforan    'Sam   casere   stodon  .  hi   Sa  ful- 
lice  gefremedon  .  Namon   set  heora  magon  J5a  sceattas   genoge  . 

*  him,  alt.  to  heom.  '  Leaf  109,  back. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  499 

and  the  earth  ;  to  Him  alone  we  sacrifice,  and  to  His  Holy  Child 
Jesus   Christ,    who   for   our   need    came   in    flesh    in   the   Holy 
Ghost,  who  from  the  lather  and  the  Son  inexplicably  proceed- 
eth,  and  sanctifieth  all  creatures;  to  this  Indivisible  Trinity  we  i68 
pray  with  humility ;  to  this  God  we  frequently  bring  off'erings, 
and  send  our  supplications  to  him  with  purity  of  body  and  soul, 
and  with  confession   of  mind  and   mouth ;   we   offer  Him   these 
fittingly,  and  we  will  never  offer  to  thy  accursed  idols,  lest  we  172 
bring  ourselves  into  defilement,  and  afterward  into  the  miseiy  of 
everlasting  hell ;  to  God  alone  we  commit  our  needs,  and  to  Him 
we  commend  our  souls  ;  Him  will  we  never  deny,  but  will  ever 
worship  Him."     When  Decius,  the  emperor,  heard  these  words,  176 
then  he  did  not  oppose  each  one  separately,  but  he  bade  men  cut 
off  from  each  their  sword- scabbards,  and  bade  men  bind  them 
firmly  with  bonds,  and  said  to  them  all ;  "  Since  ye  will  not  offer 
to  the  great  gods,  ye  shall  never  henceforth  be  to  me  so  worthy  180 
nor  so  dear  as  ye  were  before ;  but  ye  shall  be  separated  from  me, 
and  from  every  mirth,  until  I  urge  you  again,  and  then  I  will  - 
proceed  against  you  more  severely,  when  I  want  to  have  an  accusa- 
tion  against  you.      It  seemeth  to  me  indeed  to  be  unadvisable,  184 
yet  I  leave  you  unbeheaded — that  ye  so  miserably  undo  and  de- 
stroy yourselves  and  your  flourishing  youth  in  tortures  and  in 
woes  and  in  divers  miseries.    But  I  yet  grant  you  now  some  respite, 
that  ye  may  bethink  yourselves  and  bring  yourselves  to  a  better  188 
mind,  that  ye  may  save  for  yourselves  your  fair  life." 

When  the  emperor  had  thus  spoken  to  them,  then,  because  they 
were  dear  to  him,  he  bade  men  unbind  them  all  again  and  send 
them  away  unboixnd,  that  they  might  all  travel  away  freely  192 
whithersoever  they  would ;  and  the  emperor  went  to  men  of  other 
cities,  and  wrought  the  same  that  he  had  before  practised,  and 
vexed  Christian  men  to  the  utmost  of  his  power. 

Then  Maximianus,  the  Saint  of  God,  and  his  six  companions,  196 
God's  chosen  ones,  after  they  had  received  the  respite  and  had 
some  leisure,  they  then  fully  completed  the  holy  work  which  they 
had  begun  ere  they  stood  before  the  emperor.     For  they  received 
from  their  kinsmen  abundant  treasure,  immense  [quantities  of]  200 

32-2 


500  XXIII.     DE    SEPTllM    DOUMIEXTIBCS, 

sylfrene  and  gyldene  ungefoge  .  and  pa.  eawunga  and  deamunga 

200  ealle  godes  tSances  spendon  .  and  dseldon  hafenleasum  mannum  . 
and  heom  ^  betweonan  rseddon  and  |?us  ge-Jswserlice  cwsedon  .  betere 
we  ahreddon  us  sylfe  of  tSissere  burhware  gehlyde  ;  faran  us  into 
pam  mycclan  scrsefe  her  geond  on  celian  dune  .  and  we  us  tSser 

204  georne  to  gode  gebiddau  .  and  Sser  we  magon  full  eaSe  on  genere 
wunian  otSSaet  eft  se  casere  into  j^issere  biiig  fare  .  and  he  Sonne 
deme  swa  swa  he  wylle  .  and  us  nan  ]?ingc  on  worulde  fram  gode 
ne  gehremme  .  Ac  do  he  ymbe  us  swa  swa  his  willa  sy  .  pcet 

208  we  set-foran  'Sam  casere  Jjurh  his  fultum  magon  martyr-dom  ge- 
fremman  .  and  set  him  Sone  eceaii  cynehelm  under-fon  buton  ende 
mid  his  halgum  .  Da  hi  Sus'  sprecende  wseron  seofon  Sa  geco- 
renan  halgan  ,  p'd  sealdon  hi  heom  ^  ftiestnunge  betweonan  .  pcet 

213  hi  ealle  j^is  woldon  healdan  .  oS  heora  lifes  ende  .  And  pcet  feob 
p<xt  hi  ser  Isefdon  hi  mid  heom  ^  to  j^am  scrsefe  gemsenelice  hsefdon  . 
and  ealle  |?ider  inn  eodon  .  and  msenigne  daeg  Sser-inne  wunedon  . 
and  on  a|?enedum  lichaman  hi  to  gode  geornlice  gebsedon  .  pcet 

216  he  heora  gemiltsode  swa  swa  liis  wylla  wa^re  .  Setton  him  ]3a  senne 
wicnere  getreowne  .  and  swiSe  gesceadne  .  Sses'^  eadigan  nama 
wses  malchus  se  goda  .  set  pdva  wses  gelang  eall  heora  foda  .  se 
heom  on  ealre  hwile  metes  tilian  sceolde  .  and  he  Sa  mid  ead- 

220  modnysse  fengc  to  Ssere  gehyrsumnysse  .  and  swa  oft  swa  he  into 
Ssere  byrig  code  .  he  hine  on  wsedlan  hywe  seteowde  .  and  dear- 
nunga  wses  smeagende  hu  hit  on  Sses  caseres  hirede  ferde  .  and 
georne  Sses  pe  he  mihte  earmum  mannum  selmyssan  dselde  .  and 

224  his  geferan  mete  bohte .  and  to  heom  Jjone  gebrohte  .  and  heom  ^ 
selc  Jjsera  worda  cydde  pe  he  be  heom  ^  binnan  porte  ahwser  sprecan 
gehyrde ;  fja  gelamp  hit  betweonan  f)am  Se  )?as  j^ing  gewurdon  . 
past  se  casere  eft  mid  fyrde  ferde  into  efese  byrig  .  and  he  Soer- 

228  rihte  het  gelangian  maximianum  }?one  halgan  .  and  mid  him  his 
six  geferan  .  pcet  hi  ealle  set-gsedere  sceoldon  deoflum  offrian ;  Jja 
p&  he  mid  ungemete  heom  ^  behet  selcne  bete  .  pa,  wurdon  getreowe 
hi  ealle  .  and  mid  ogan  of-sette  .  and  gehwa  solite  gener  })ser-rihte 

232  Sser  he  senig  findan  mihte  .  and  he  malchus  se  getreowa  fleah  of 

^  Lim,  alt.  to  heom.  '  Leaf  110. 


XXIII.     THE    SFVEN    SLEEPERS.  501 

silver  and  gold,  and  spent  them  ail   publicly  and   privately  for 
the  sake  of  God,  and  distributed  to  poor  men,  and  took  counsel 
among    themselves,   and   thu3    unanimously   spoke ;    "  Better   we 
should  free  ourselves   from  the   tumult  of  this  population  ;    let  304 
Uo  go  into  the  great  cave  here  beyond  on  the  Celian  Hill,  and 
there  let  us  pray  earnestly  to  God ;  and  there  we  may  full  easily 
dwell  in  safety  until  the  emperor  come  again  into  this  city ;  and 
let  him  then  decree  even  as  he  will,  and  let  nothing  in  the  world  20S 
keep  us  back  from  God ;  but  let  Him  do,  about  us  even  as  His 
will  may  be,  that  we  may  through  his  aid  accomplish  martyrdom 
before  the   emperor,  and  receive  from  Him  the  eternal  diadem 
without  end   with   His  Saints."     When  they  had   thus   spoken,  212 
these  seven  chosen  Saints,  they  gave  each  other  a  pledge  that 
they  would  all  hold  to  this  until  their  life's  end.     And  the  money 
which  they  still  had  left  they  took  with  them  in  the  cave  in 
common,  and  all  went  in  thither  and  continued  therein  many  a  216 
day,  and  with  prostrate  bodies  they  prayed  fervently  to  God  that 
He  would  have  pity  on  them,  even  as  His  will  might  be.     Then 
they  appointed  a  faithful  steward,  and  very  discreet ;  the  name  of 
this  blessed  man  was  Malchus  the  good,  along  of  whom  [i.  e.  by  225 
whose  means]  was  all  their  food ;  his  office  was  to  provide  their 
meat  at  all  times,  and  he  with  humility  undertook  that  service ; 
and  as  often  as  he  went  into  the  city  he  ehowed  himself  in  the 
appearance  of  a  poor  man,  and  privately  enquired  how  it  fared  in  224 
the  emperor's  household  ;  and,  as  diligently  as  he  could,  distributed 
alms  to  poor  men,   and  bought    meat  for    his   companions,   and 
brought  it  to  them  ;  and  made  known  to  them  every  word  which 
he  had   heard  spoken   anywhere  within    the  town   about    them.  228 
Then  it  befell   that,  whilst  these  things  were  taking   place,  the 
emperor  came  again  with  his  army  into  the  city  Ephesus,  and  he 
straightway  bade  summon  the  holy  Maximian,  and  his  six  com- 
panions with   him,  that  they  all  together  might  sacrifice  to  the  33a 
devils.      When  with  excessive  wrath  he   commanded  each   man, 
then  they  all   continued  faithful,   and  oppressed  witli   fear,  and 
everyone  sought  refuge  immediately  where  he  could  find  any  ;  and 
he,  Malchus  the  faithful,  fled  instantly  from  the  city  with  awe  and  236 


502  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

tJeere  byrig  sona  mid  ege  and  mid  ogan  .  haefde  mid  him  Jjeah 
ea|)eHcne  fodan  .  and  com  to  his  geferan  and  heom^  eall  cydde 
hu    egeslice  se   casere   be  heom  ^   beboden   hsefde  .  pcet   hi   mon 

236  seg-hwanone  secan  sceolde  .and  hi  Sa  halgan  pa,  hi  pcet  gehyrdon 
ealle  hi  forhtedon  .  and  to  gode  clypedon  .  and  on  geomrunge  Ssere 
msestan  him  heora  lif  eall  befseston ;  d  wses  peah  amang  J)am 
malclms  heora  Senig-mann  .  and  pa  eatSelican  ]3enunga  pe  he  Sider 

240  brohte  heom  ^  geornlice  j^enode  .  pcet  hi  be  dsele  hi  gereordodon  . 

'  and  pcet  hi  wurdon  pe  geheortran  wit5  )7am  awyrgedan  strangan  . 
and  }3one  ealdan  wicSerwinnan  ;  tSa  pa  hi  ealle  set-gsedere  comon  , 
and  to  middes  'Sam  scrsefe  saeton  pcet  hi  ge^msenelice  gereordodan  . 

244  (Sa  wurdon  heora  eagan  afyllede  mid  tearum  and  angmode  geom- 
rodon  ealle  heora  heortan  mid  Jji  pe  hit  sefnian  wolde  and  seo 
sunne  sah  to  setle  on-mang  tSam  pe  hi  on  wope  waeron  .  and  hi  on 
un-ea?5nysse  sprsecon  .  hi  tSa  heom  ^  betweonan  dn  and  dn  hnap- 

248  podon  ,  and  swa  lange  hi  hnipedon  pcet  hi  ealle  set-gsedere  on  slsepe 
wurdon  .  ealle  him  waeron  ge-hefgode  tSa  eagan  of  (Sam  menig- 
fealdum  biterlicum  tearum  pe  hi  tSser  aUton  .  and  on  tJam  sare  ]?am 
mycclan  hi  lagon  and  slepon  ,  Ac  god  aelmihtig  scyppend  pe  is 

252  ealra  gesceafta  wealdend  .  pe  his  gecorenan  bi(5  swa  milde  swa 
modor  bitS  hire  agenum  cilde  ,  He  sylf  pas  seofonum  halgum  *  be- 
head pcet  hi  swa  slepon  for  his  micclan  wundrum  .  pe  eft  he  gedon 
habban  wolde  .  j^a  halgan  tSe  he  ealre  worulde  furcSor  onwreon 

256  gemynte  .  He  sylf  Sas  J^ingc  swa  gescifte  .  and  mid  his  t5sere  mseran 
fadunge  gedihte  .  pcet  heora  nan  gef^lan  ne  mihte  hu  hi  gewurdon 
on  slsepe  .  ne  heora  ndn  nyste  hwser  heora  sawla  reston  .  Eall 
hit  wees  heom  ^  uncutS  .  ac  hit  wses  gode  ful  cuS  .  Ealle  hi  lAgon 

260  slaepende  geond  ]7a  eor'San  .  and  swa  on  godes  naman  andetnysse 
hi  gewurdon  on  tSsere  seftnysse  .  and  pcet  feoh  pcet  hi  hsefdon  tSser 
on  beoi'a  seodum  .  Iseg  eac  mid  J^am  halgum  uppan  ?5sere  eortSan. 
Da  seo  sunne  begann  cSaes  on  morgen  on-y  wan  eallum  mannum  hire 

264  tSone  beorhtan  leoman  .  J^a  het  se  casere  georne  smeagan  .  hwser 
mann  sefre  })a  halgan  ge-axian  mihte.  ^Ic  mann  ]?a  sefter  ?5am 
ge-bode  ofer  eall  ferdon  ,  mann  smeade  uppan  lande  .  man  axode 

^  him,  alt.  to  heom.  '^  Leaf  1 10,  back.  '  seofon  halg,  alt.  to 

seofonujw  halgum. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  503 

fear,  having  with  him  however  some  scanty  food,  and  came  to  his 
companions  and  told  them  everything ;  how  fearfully  the  emperor 
had  commanded  concerning  them,  that  they  should  be  sought  for 
everywhere  ;   and  they,  the  Saints,  when  they  had  heard   that,  240 
all  feared   and  cried  to  God,  and  with  very  great   lamentation 
commended  to  Him  all  their  lives.     Nevertheless,  Malchus  their 
serving  man  was  ever  among  them,  and  the  scanty  food  which 
he  had   brought   thither  he  served  to  them  carefully,  that  they  244 
might  a   little  refresh  themselves,  and  that   they  might  be  the 
more  heartened  against  the  accursed  strong  one  and  the  old  ad- 
versary.    When  they  all  came  together  and  sat  in  the  midst  of 
the  cave,  that   they  might  eat  in  common,  then  their  eyes  were  248 
filled  with  tears  and  all  their  hearts  sadly  grieved ;  meanwhile  it 
became  evening,  and  the  sun  sank  to  rest  while  they  were  weep- 
ing and  talking  anxiously ;  then,  among  them,  one  by  one  they 
napped,  and  so  long  reclined  that  they  were  all  asleep  together  ',25* 
all  their  eyes  were  made  heavy  by  the  manifold  bitter  tears  which 
they  had  let  fall  there,  and  in  that  great  sorrow  they  lay  and  slept. 
But  God  the  Almighty  Creator,  who  is  the  Ruler  of  all  creatures, 
who  to  His  chosen  is  as  mild  as  is  a   mother  to  her  own  child,  256 
Himself  oidained  for  the   Seven  Saints,  that  they  should  sleep 
thus,  for  the  great  wonders  which  afterward  He  willed  to  do ; 
these  Saints,  whom  He  was  minded  further  to  reveal  to  all  the 
world.    He  Himself  thus  ordained  these  things,  and  by  His  mighty  260 
disposing  ordered  it,  that  none  of  them  should  feel  how  they  fell 
asleep,  and  none  of  them  knew  where  their  souls  rested.     It  was 
all  unknown  to  them,  but  it  was  fully  known  to  God.     They  all 
lay  sleeping  upon  the  earth,  and  thus  in  the  confession  of  God's  264 
name  they  fell  into  that  quietness ;  and  the  money  that  they  had 
there  in  their  scrips  lay  also  with  the  Saints  upon  the  earth. 
When  the  sun  began  in  the  morning  to  show  to  all  men  her  bright 
beam,  then  the  emperor  bade   search   diligently  wherever  they  268 
could  hear  of  the  Saints.     Then  every  man,  according  to  the  com- 
mand, went  everywhere  ;  they  searched  in  the  country,  they  asked 


504  XXIII,     DE    SEPTEM    DOllMIENTIBUS. 

on  porte  .  tSser  man  gengde  geond  eall  abutan  )7one  portweall  man 

268  ^  strutnode  on  selcere  stowe  J^aer  man  lii  sefre  geaxian  cu(5e  .  ne 
mihte  hi  nan  man  na  hwer  findan.  He  J)a  se  cdsere  dreorigan 
mode  .  cw8e(5  to  his  j^egnura  mid  'Svllicum  wordum.  Mycel  is  me 
unbliss  minra  dyilinga  miss  .  pcet  hi  us  swa  fajrlice  mid  ealle  syn 

272  set-lumpene  .  swa  msere  cynnes  menn  swa  swa  hi  waeron  .  for-]?i  hi 
on-sseton  and  mid  ealle  ondr^dou  .  pcet  we  heom  ^  forSon  grame 
beon  woldon  .  foi'Son  j^e  hi  ser  us  hyran  noldon  ;  Da  cwae'S  se 
casere  to  tSam  embstandendum ;  Nese  hi  man  wdt  .  and  ic  eac  pcet 

276  sylfe  w4t .  geseo  we  senigne  mann  pe  georne  hine  sylfne  to  urum 
godum  bugan  wylle  .  eall  pcet  he  ser  agylte  laesse  o})]3e  mare  .  we 
IsetatS  hit  of  gemynde  swilce  hit  nsefre  ne  gewurde  .  JEfter  swilcum 
wordum  and  mseuig-fealdum  otSrum  .  Stopon  pa.  in  to  (Sam  casere 

280  ?>a  yldestan  pe  on  his  hirede  wseron  .  and  }3a  halgan  to  him 
wregdon  and  be  heom  ]3us  spra^con  .  Ealra  manna  hlaford  geond 
pas  widan  worulde  .  we  bidda'S  J^inne  cyne-scipe  pcet  J?u  nan  Singe 
ne  beo  dreorig  otSSe  sarig   for  tSan  geongaii  cnihton  ealra  goda 

284  feondum  .  for  San  hi  under  Se  leof  oS  {jisne  andweardan  daeg  on 
yfele  J)urh-wunodon  Sees  pe  we  gehyrdon  siSSan  J)u  heom  ^  to-lete 
|5one  timan  J^^et  hi  hi  sylfe  be|7oliton  .  a  hi  ymbe  pcet  wseron  .  hu 
hi  Se  mid  ealle  mis-cwemdom  .  eall  pcet  yfel  pcet  hi  ser  San  be- 

288  gunnon  hi  pent  eall  sySSan  ful  dydon  ;  namon  £et  heora  magon  un- 
gerime  sceattas  .  and  ealle  Sa  to-wurpon  geond  Jjas  ruman  burh- 
wegas  .  and  synd  nu  be-dyrnde  and  on  diglon  be-hydde  pcet  hi  nan 
man  ne  maeg  na  hwaer  gefindan  .  g_)f  Sin  cyne-scipe  swa  cwyS  . 

292  hit  geworden  biS  sona  pcet  man  heora  magas  gelangie  .  and  hi 
man  stiSlice  Sreatige  pcet  hi  be  wite  hi  ameldian  .  '  and  to  pe 
leof  gebringan  .  Sa  se  casere  Sas  word  gehyrde  .  he  his  mod  sona 
gehyrte  .  het  Jja  Sa  magas  gefeccan  and  began  heom  ^  Sas  word 

296  segcan  .  Hwser  syndon  J^a  wiSer-sacan  eowre  lySran  magas  pe  min 

bebod  forhogedon  .  pcet  hi  Sam  wurSlicum   godum   nane  14c   ne 

offredon  .  buton  ge  hi  nu  her  ameldian  .  ge  sceolon  heera  wite 

lastiindian.     Da  andwyrdon  |?a  magas  .  and  sealdon  micele  aSas 

^  Leaf  III  ;  read  scrutnode.        *  him,  alt.  to  heom.        '  Leaf  11 1,  back. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  503 

in  the  town ;  as  they  went  all  round  about  the  town-wall,  they 
searched  in  every  place  wherever  they  could  enquire  ;  nor  could  272 
any  man  anywhere  find  them. 

Then  the   emperor,    sad    in   mind,   spake    to   his   thanes  with 
words  such  as  these,  "  The  missing  of  my  favorites  is  a  great 
unhappiness    to   me,  that    they  have   so   suddenly  and    entirely  276 
escaped   us.      Being   men   of  so   great  kindred    as    they    were, 
therefore   they    have    feared,    and   altogether   dreaded    that    we 
should    be    angry  with    them,   because  they   would    not    obey  us 
before."     Then  said  the  emperor  to  the  bystanders,  "  Nay,  behold,  280 
one  knoweth,  and  I  also  know  it  myself,  if  we  see  any  man  who 
will  submit  himself  zealously  to  our  gods,  all  that  he  hath  before 
been  guilty  of,  less  or  more,  we  let  it  [pass  out]  of  mind  as  if  it 
had  never  been."     After  such  words  and  manifold  others,  then  284 
stepped  in  to  the  emperor  the  chiefest  who  were  in  his  household, 
and  accused  the  Saints  to  him,  and  thus  spake  concerning  them  : 
"  Lord  of  all  men  throughout  this  wide  world,  we  pray  thy  king- 
ship that  thou  be  not  at  all  dreary  or  sorry  for  the  young  boys,  288 
enemies  of  all  gods,  because  they  have  continued  in  evil  under 
thee,  lord,  until  this  present  day  ;  according  to  that  which  we  have 
heard,  after  that  thou  didst  allow  them  that  respite  wherein  they 
might  bethink  themselves,  they  have  ever  sought  how  they  miglit  292 
misplease  thee  utterly.     All  the  evil  that  they  had  begun  before, 
they  have  afterward  fully  performed ;  they  have  taken  from  their 
kinsmen  countless  treasures,  and  cast  them  all  about  the  open 
city-ways,  and  are  now  concealed  and  hidden  in  secret  so  that  no  296 
man  can  anywhere  find  them.     If  thy  kingship  so  sayeth,  it  shall 
instantly  happen  that  their  kinsmen  be  summoned,  and  be  sternly 
threatened,  that  they,  by  means  of  torture,  may  betray  them,  and 
bring  them,  lord,  to  thee."     When  the  emjieror  heard  these  words  300 
he  immediately  comforted  his  mind ;  then  bade  he  fetch  the  kins- 
men, and  began  to  say  these  words  to  them,   "Where  are  the 
apostates,  your  wicked  kinsmen,  who  have  slighted  my  command, 
so  that  they  have  not  offered  any  sacrifice  to  the  worthy  gods  ?  304 
Unless  ye  now  here  betray  them,  ye  shall  endure  their  punishment." 

Then  answered  the  kinsmen  and  took  great  oaths,  and  implored 


506  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

300  and  tSone  casere  baedon  and  ofdraedde  him  to-cweedon ;  we  biddatS 
\)e  leof  hlaford  .  p(et  Su  ge-hyran  wylle  ure  word  ;  we  \)'m  cynelice 
gebod  nahwser  ne  forgymdon  .  ne  we  'Sa  weortSlican  godas  naefre 
ne  for-hogodon  ;   hwi   wilt  Jju   us  leof  witnian  for  otSra  manna 

304  J^ingon  Ipe  J^in  gebod  for-sawon  .  and  ure  sceattas  for-spendon  geond 
ealle  eor?5an  .  Her  hi  synd  full  ge-hende  geond  on  c61ian  dune  .  on 
sorge  and  on  ege  behydde  .  ne  we  be  him  na]?or  nyton  swa  hi  'Saer 
libban  .  swa  hi  tJaer  deade  ligcon  .  Da  hi  tSus  hi  sylfe  earhlice 

308  betealdon  .  ]?a  het  se  casere  hi  faran  swa  hwider  swa  hi  woldon  . 
and  hi  feorh-fagene  him  fram  sona  tSanon  eodon  .  and  se  casere  eft 
sona  ]3ohte  and  smeade  liwset  he  Jjam  halgan  don  mihte  .  0(St5e  hu 
he  sefre  embe  by  sceolde  .  and  J)a  J^a  he  him  hearmian  nolde  for 

312  )5i  hit  swa  geweort5an  sceolde  .  god  selmihtig  him  pa,  Jjses  geucSe 
tSeah  he  ^ses  wyrSe  nsere  pcet  god  bine  geneosode  .  ^fre  'Seah  for 
his  halgena  earnunge  .  him  (5a  (Sis  gej)anc  on  mode  asende  .  poet 
he    het    |?8es    scrsefes   ingang    'Sser    hi   inne    lagon    eall   hit   mid 

316  weorc-stanum  for-wyrcan  .  for  tSan  god  wolde  pcet  hi  tSser  stille 
reston  .  and  ungebr^pode  on  ?Sam  scrgefe  slepon  o]?  J^as  ytStogenan 
tide  pe  he  hi  eft  mancynne  J)urh  his  raycclan  msertSe  for  micelre 
neode  geswuHelian  wolde ;  and  he  (5a  decius  let  him  to  rsede  poet 

320  he  pa  gersedde  and  he  t5a  his  getSanc  geopenode  .  and  ofer  eall 
clypode  .  fare  man  switSe  hra(5e  Jjyder  geond  to  p&m  scrsefe  Jjser  pn 
wi(5er-sacan  inne  dariatS  behydde  .  and  hi  man  mid  weorc-stane  on 
segbwilce  healfe  ealle  swa  cuce  Saer-inne  for-wyrce  .  poet  hi  sunnan 

324  leoman  nsefre  lengc  ne  geseon  .  ne  hi  myrht5e  mid  us  beonon-fortS 
nabbatS  .  nu  hi  ure  bebod  healdan  noldon  .  Ac  beon  hi  tSaer  on 
yrmtSe  on  selce  hand  beclysede  .  otSSset  hi  mid  ealle  deatS  for- 
swelge  .  swa  he  let  on  his  ge'Sance  se  casere  and  mid  him  eall 

328  seo  burhvvaru^  poet  hi  t5a  halgan  swa  lifigende  on?5am  scrsefe  wurdon 
beclysde  .  Da  gelamp  hit  poet  Sser  betweonan  eodon  ?5ses  caseres 
dyrlingas  hi  twegen  .  wseron  him  swit5e  leofe  .  and  hi  Seb-hwse'Sere 
wseron  dearnunga  cristene  begen  .  se  an  wses  genemned  jjeodorus  . 

333  and  se  o?5er  rufinus  .  Jsa  sprsecon  hi  him  betweonan  swa  hit  nan 
*  Leaf  112.  "  burhware,  alt.  to  hnrhw&TV. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  507 

the  emperor,  and,  being  much  affrighted,  answered  him,  "  "We  pray 
thee,  dear  lord,  that  thou  wilt  hear  our  words  ;    we  never  neg-  308 
lected  anywhere  thy  kingly  commands,  neither  despised  we  ever 
the  worthy  gods ;  why  wilt  thou,  lord,  punish  us  for  the  sake  of 
other  men  who  contemned  thy  command  and  spent  our  treasures 
all  over  the  earth  1    Here  they  are  full  near  at  hand,  yonder  on  the  31* 
Celian  Hill,  hidden  in  anxiety  and  fear,  neither  know  we  con- 
cerning them,  whether  they  be  there  living  or  there  lying  dead.' 
When  they  had  thus  fearfully  excused  themselves,  then  the  em- 
peror bade  them  go  whithersoever  they  would  ;  and  they,  fain  of  316 
life,  quickly  departed  thence  from  him  ;  and  the  emperor  again 
straightway  thought    and   considered  what   he   could  do   to   the 
Saints,  or  however  he  should  act  concerning  them ;  and  since  he 
desired  not  to  harm  them,  because  it  was  so  ordained  to  come  to  320 
pass,  God  Almighty  granted  him  this,  though  he  was  not  worthy 
that  God  should  visit  him.     Nevertheless,  for  the  merit  of  His 
Saints,  He  sent  this  thought  into  his  mind,  that  he  bade  the  en- 
trance of  the  cave,  within  which  they  lay,  to  be  all  blocked  up  324 
with  hewn  stones,  because  God  willed  that  they  should  rest  there 
quietly,  and  sleep  untouched  in  the  cave,  until  the  quickly  com- 
pleted time  when  He  would  again  manifest  them  to  mankind,  by 
His  great  glory,  for  a  great  need;  and  then  he,  Decius,  so  took  328 
counsel,  that  he  then  determined  and  made  known  his  intention, 
and  proclaimed  everywhere :  "  Let  them  go  very  quickly  thither 
yonder  to  the  cave  wherein  the  apostates  slumber  hidden,  and 
block  them  up  therein  all  alive  with  hewn  stones  on  every  side,  332 
that  they  shall  never  any  longer  see  the  sun-beams,  nor  have  mirth 
with  us  henceforth,  since  they  would  not  observe  our  command ; 
but  let  them  be  there,  in  misery,  closed  up  on  either  hand  until 
death  altogether  swallow  them  up."  336 

So  he,  the  emperor,  purposed  in  his  mind,  and  all  the  citizens  with 
him,  that  they,  the  Saints,  should  thus  be  closed  up  in  the  cave  alive. 

Then  it  happened  that  there  went  among  them  twain  of  the 
emperor's  favorites.     They  were  very  dear  to  him,  nevertheless  340 
they  were  both  secretly  Christians ;  the  one  was  named  Theodore, 
and  the  other  Rufinus.    Then  they  spake  between  themselves  so 


50S  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

man  nyste  butan  him  sylfon  ,  'pcet  hi  woldon  tSisra  haligra  rnartyra 
martyr-race  awritan  .  and  Ipcet  gewrit  mid  ]?am  halgum  Seer-inne 
lecgan  .  swa  man  in  to  (5am  scrsefe  gdn  sceolde  .  pcet  hit  mid  him 

336  Jjser-inne  Isege  .  to  swutelunge  otS  tSone  byre  pe  hi  god  selmihtig 
awehte  .  and  hi  man-cynne  geswutelian  wolde  .  p(et  ealle  men  'Surh 
Sset  gewi-itt  eft  ongytan  mihton  .  hwset  }?a  halgan  weeron  J^e  man 
tSser-inne  funde  J^onne  pcet  godes  wylla  vvsere ;  and  hi  (Sa  twegen 

340  getreow-fseste  wseron  dydon  ]33er-rihte  eall  swa  hi  ser  gemynton  . 
eodon  in  to  tSam  scrsefe  dearnunga  on-£undran  .  and  |?as  halgan 
martyrrace  eall  swa  heo  gewearS  on  anum  leadenum  tabulau  ealle 
mid  stafon  agrofon  .  and  hi  ©set  gewrit  mid  twam  sylfrenan  in- 

344  Beglum  on  anre  teage  geinsegledon  .  ^  and  wiS  ]?a  halgan  Sser-inne 
swi?5e  digol-lice  ledon  .  and  tSaes  scrsefes  locstan  hi  wel  faeste 
beelysdon  .  and  him  Sanon  sy'StSan  ham-weard  gewendon  .  and  }5a 
ealle  ]?as  tSingc  |5urh  godes  fadunge  J5us  wurdon   gedyhte  .  Da 

348  ymbe  pcet  utene  .  forS-ferde  decius  se  yfela  casere  .  and  eefre  selc 
dctl  eall  his  cynnes  .  and  feala  oSra  casera  "^  sefter  him  rixodon  selc 
sefter  ocSrum  on  heora  cynescipes  wuldre  .  and  on  heora  anwealdes 
myrh{?e  .  and  hi  sume  ^  hsej^ene  .  and  sume  cristene  feala  geara 

352  rixodon  .  o'S'Sset  j^eodosius  se  msera  casere  archadies  sunu  fengc  to 
rice  .  and  embe  eahta  and  'Srittig  geara  ]58es  pe  he  rixode  .  asprang 
gehwser  on  godes  folce  mycel  gedwyld  .  and  ferdon  yfele  menn 
geond  eall  )?ser  hi  mihton  .  and  cristene  men  on  gedwylde  brohton  . 

356  saedon  pcet  se  geleafa  naht  nsere  j^e  ealle  geleafFulle  men  buton 
tweonunge  gelyfatJ  .  pcet  is  pcet  ealle  men  on  domes  dseg  sceolon 
arisan  mid  j^am  ylcan  lichaman  pe  ge-hwa  ser  her  on  life  leofode  . 
and  ]3onne  seghwilcum  men  sefter  his  geearnungum  biS  gedemed  . 

360  swa  to  yrm]3e  on  helle  wite  .  swa  to  myrhj?e  on  heofona  rice  . 
tSisne  geleafan  woldon  gedwolmen  a-idlian  .  and  of  cristes  gelacSunge 
mid  ealle  adwsescan  .  and  on  Sam  timan  pe  Sa  bisceopas  beon 
sceoldan  .  and  godes  psit  halige  folc  on  rihtne  weg  gebringan  .  hi 

364  swicSost  selces  gedweldes  tiledon  .  and  selc  gedwyld  hi  upp  arserdon ; 
twegen  t5ser  wseron  bisceop-hades  men  pe  selces  yfeles  heafod-hebban 
wae'ron  .  se  wses  gehaten  theodorus  .  and  se  oSer  gains ;  hi  nseron 

'  Leaf  112,  back.  ^  oSre  casere,  alt.  to  oSra  casera.  '  wseron 

is  here  added  above  the  line  (needlesdy). 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  509 

that  no  man  knew  it  save  themselves,  that  they  would  write  down 
the  martyrology  of  these  holy  martyrs,  and  lay  the  writing  therein  344 
with  the  Saints,  just  where  men  must  go  into  the  cave,  that  it 
might  lie  therein  with  them  as  a  testimony,  until  the  time  when 
God  Almighty  should  awake  them,  and  should  reveal  them  to 
mankind ;  that  all  men  might  afterward  perceive  by  that  writing,  34^ 
who  the   Saints  were  whom   they  should   find  therein,  when   it 
should  be  God's  will.     And  they,  the  twain,  were  faithful,  and  did 
straightway  all  as  they  had  before  intended,  and  went  into  the  cave 
secretly  apart    [from  the  rest],  and  engraved  with  letters  on  a  352 
leaden  tablet'the  holy  martyrology,  just  as  it  had  happened,  and 
they  sealed  up  the  writing  with  two  silver  seals  in  a  casket,  and 
laid  it  therein  very  secretly  beside  the  Saints  ;  and  they  closed  the 
cave's  keystone  very  securely,  and  afterward  thence  turned  them  356 
homeward  ;  and  so  all  these  things  were  through  God's  ordinance 
thus  disposed.     Then  about  that  time  died  Decius  abroad,  the  evil 
emperor,  and  all  his  kindred,  every  whit ;  and  many  other  emperors 
reigned  after  him,  one  after  another,  in  the  glory  of  their  kingship,  360 
and  iu  the  joy  of  their  power ;  and  they,  some  heathen  and  some 
Christian,   reigned  many  years  until  Theodosius,  the  great  em- 
peror, son  of  Arcadius,  succeeded  to  the  kingdom.     And  about  the 
eight  and  thirtieth  year  after  he  began  to  reign,  there  sprang  up  364 
everywhere  among  God's  people  great  heresy,  and  evil  men  went 
about  everywhere  they  could,  and  brought   Christian  men  into 
heresy,  and  said  that  the  belief  was  naught  which  all  faithful  men 
believe  without  doubt,  viz.  that  all  men  at  Doomsday  shall  arise  368 
with  the  same  bodies  in  which  each  one  before  lived  here  in  life, 
and  then  each  man  shall  be  doomed  according  to  his  deserts,  either 
to  misery  in  hell-torment,  or  to  mirth  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Heretics  desired  to  destroy  this  faith,  and  utterly  to  extinguish  it  out  372 
of  Christ's  church  ;  and  at  the  time  when  the  bishops  should  have 
been  ready  to  lead  God's  holy  people  in  the  right  way,  they,  above 
all,  fostered  every  error,  and  raised  up  every  heresy.     There  were 
two  men  in  the  episcopal  office  who  were  the  chief  promoters  of  37^ 
every  evil ;  one  was  called  Theodore,  and  the  other  Gaius.     They 


510  XXIII.     DE   SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS, 

furtSan  wyrtJe  pcet  man  heora  naman  on  tSisre  haligra  martyr-race 

368  Bceolde  awritan  .  for  (San  ^  pe  hi  godes  gelatSunge  switSost  dreliton  . 
and  mid  heora  gedwolsprsece  eall  folc  arayrdon  .  and  theodosius 
se  msera  casere  |?a  he  swilce  ungewitt  selce  dsege  gehyrde  .  he 
weartS  sarig  'Searle  on  his  mode  .  and  he  wepende  on  his  ge|?ance 

373  hit  bemsende  .  pcet  sefre  on  his  timan  se  cristena  geleafa  swa  earm- 
lice  setfeallan  sceolde.  Sume  pa  yldestan  gedwolmen  ssedon  .  pcet 
menn  of  deatSe  nsefre  arisan  ne  sceoldon.  Sume  hi  cwsedon  .  pcet 
se  lichama  pe  sene  bicS  for-mogod  and  to  duste  gewend  and  wide 

376  to-sawon  .  pcet  he  nsefre  eft  togaedere  ne  come  .  ac  tSa  sawla  ana 
on  domes  dseg  butan  selcan  lichoman  sceolden  underfon  'Saere 
myrhtSe  heora  seriste;  Jjus  hi  dweledon  mid  heora  leas-sagulan 
sprsece  ,  and  heora  modes  andgytu  mid  ealle  hi  fordytton  .  pcet  hi 

380  nan  Ssera  worda  getSeiican  ne  mihton  pe  ure  haelend  sylf  on  ?Jam 
godspelle  be  Ssere  seriste  cwse^S  .  Amen  amen  dico  nobis  .  quia 
uenit  hora  quando  mortui  in  monumentis  .  audient  uocem  filii 
hominis  et  uiuent.     pcei  is  on  urum  gej^eode  .  Sot5  so]?  ic  eow 

384  secge  pcet  se  tima  cymtS  .  J?onne  ealle  deade  menn  on  heora 
byrgenum  mannes  bearnes  stefne  gehyratS  .  and  hi  ealle  dcuciaS. 
Dyllice  halige  word  .  and  ungerime  ot5re  'Se  on  halgum  bocum 
synd  awritene  .  pmt  god  selmihtig  msenigfealdlice  .  ge  tSurh  his 

388  witegan  .  ge  J)urh  hine  sylfne  .  and  be  tSaera  martyra  seriste  waes 
sprecende  .  and  c5eah  ealra  |3sera  worda  hi  wseron  forgytene ; 
namon  him  ]?a  gedwoU-menn  sen-lipige  to  gemynde  .  and  lagon 
on  heora  gedwylde  and  godes  worda  swetnysse  hi  awendon  him 

392  sylfum  to  biternysse  .  pe  swa  ^  godes  folc  drehton  .  and  tSonne 
for  tSisum  wearcS  theodosius  se  msera  ]?earle  ahwsened  .  and  he 
his  lie  for  Ssere  sarignysse  mid  wacan  hreafe  scrydde  .  and  wses 
him  ana  cniht-leas  on  his  inran  bure  .  and  hine  sylfne  tSser-inne 

396  beclysde  .  and  jjser  hreowlice  beforan  gode  gebserde  .  for-San  j^e  he 
nyste  hwses  he  gelefan  sceolde  .  Jia  hine  J?a  swySost  drehton  and 
on  ungewisse  gebrohton  pe  his  witan  beon  sceoldon.  Ac  selmihtig 
god  se  milda  pe  selcne  mann  mid  fulre  mildheortnysse  underfehj? 

400  pe  hine  mid  fulre  eadmodnysse  ges6ht5 .  pa  he  ^ses  caseres  mycclan 
hreowsunga  geseah  .  him  eac  sona  poet  hreow  and  his  pcet  sarlice 
*  Leaf  113.  '  Leaf  113,  back. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  511 

were  not  even  worthy  that  one  should  write  their  names  in  this 
martyrology  of  saints,  because  they  troubled  God's  church  most  of 
all,  and  misled  all  the  people  with  their  heretical  speeches.  And  380 
Theodosius,  the  great  emperor,  when  he  heard  such  folly  every 
day,  he  became  exceeding  sorry  in  his  mind ;  and  he,  weeping, 
bemoaned  it  in  his  thoughts,  that  ever  in  his  time  the  Cliristian  faith 
should  fall  away  so  miserably.  384 

Some  of  the  chief  heretics  said  that  men  would  never  arise  from 
death  ;  some  of  them  said  that  the  body,  which  alone  is  corrupted 
and  turned  to  dust  and  sown  widely,  would  never  come  together 
again,  but  the  souls  alone  on  Doomsday,  without  any  body,  would  388 
receive  the  joy  of  their  resurrection.     Thus  they  erred  with  their 
lying  speech,  and  they  utterly  stopped  up  their  minds'  understand- 
ing, so  that  they  could  not  think  of  any  of  the  words  which  our 
Saviour  Himself  said  in  the  gospel  concerning  the   resurrection,  392 
"Amen    amen,  dico    vohis,    quia   venit   Tiora,    quando   mortui   in 
monumentis  audient  vocemfilii  hominis,  et  vivent:"  that  is,  in  our 
speech,  "  Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  the  time  cometh  when 
all  the  dead  men  shall  hear  in  their  graves  the  voice  of  the  Son  39^ 
of  Man,  and  they  all  shall  revive." 

Such  [are  the]  holy  words  and  numberless  others  which  are  written 
in  holy  books,  which  God  Almighty,  in  many  ways,  both  by  His 
prophets  and  by  Himself,  and  concerning  the  resurrection  of  the  4°° 
martyrs,  had  spoken,  and  yet  they  had  forgotten  all  these  words; 
the  heretics  [only]  held  them  in  their  memory  privately,  and  lay 
in  their  heresy  ;  and  the  sweetness  of  God's  words  they  turned  to 
bitterness  to  themselves,  who  thus  vexed  God's  people ;  and  there-  404 
fore  for  these  things  was  Theodosius  the  Great  exceedingly  grieved, 
and  for  that  sorrow  he  clothed  his  body  with  mean  raiment,  and 
was  alone,  without  servants,  in  his  inner  chamber,  and  shut  him- 
self therein,  and  there  mournfully  demeaned  himself  before  God,  408 
because  he  knew  not  what  he  ought  to  believe,  since  those  most 
troubled  him,  and  brought  him  into  uncertainty,  who  should  have 
been  his  counsellors.     But  Almighty  God  the  Merciful,  who  with 
full  mildheartedness  receiveth  every  man  who  seeketh  Him  with  4" 
full  humility,  when  He  saw  the  emperor's  great  lamentation,  at 


512  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DOKMIENTIBUS. 

aiiginn  .  and  hine  ]?a  na  lengc  ahwsenedne  habban  nokle  ;  iie  he 
eac  pa,  na  lengc  gej^afian  ne  mihte  pcet  his  halige  folc  Isege  on 

404  gedwylde  .  ac  he  for  his  mycclan  mildheortnysse  segcSer  ge  tSam 
godan  cdsere  frofre  geujje..  and  eallum  folce  'Sees  svvi'Se  ungefyi'n 
he  geswutelia,u  wolde  hwses  ge-hwa  gelyfan  sceolde  mid  gewisse  . 
and  he  his  (5a  halgen  gelaj^unge  'Sses  ful  tidlice  of  tSsera  ^  gedwol- 

408  manna  gedrecednysse  ahredde  .  and  hira  eac  t5a  toweardon  ealra  ^ 
manna  sei'iste  .  mid  his  t5am  beorhtan  and  c5am  so'San  leohte 
geopenode  .  on  tSus  gewordenre  dsede.  Da  on  ?5am  timan  J^e  se 
cristena  and  se  goda  theodosius  fullice  on  god  telmihtigne  wses 

412  belyfed  swa  his  yldran  beforan  him  nianega  wseron  .  and  he  his 
neode  to  gode  swit5e  georne  msende.  pa  gelamp  hit  on  tSam  dagum 
Jje  ??as  forsprecenan  J?ingc  gewurdon  .  pcet  god  selmihtig  gescifte 
senne  swa  ge-radne  mann  .  pe  ahte  ge-weald  ealles  cSses  splottes  set 

416  celian  dune  .  J^ar  pcet  scrsef  'wses  tomiddes  J^e  ?Sa  seofon  halgan 
lagon  inne  sldpan  .  and  lie  Sa  se  ilea  goda  mann  let  ^ser  arseran 
ealle  abutan  t5a  dune  his  hyrde-cnapan  cytan  .  pcet  hi  Saer  gehende 
mid  heora  hlafordes  yrfe  lagon  .  and  wiS  cyle  and  wiS  hseton  hi 

420  sylfe  geburgon  .  and  hi  georne  pa,  hyrdecnapan  and  mid  heora 
handgemScan  .  sume  twegen  dagas  on  dn  ymbe  pcet  waeron  .  o'S  pcet 
hi  werige  fornean  comon  tSser  Sa  seofon  halgan  full  ge-hende  Mgon  ; 
and  hi  (Sser  sona  uumyndlinga  switSe  fsesthealdne  weorcstan  upp 

424  ahwylfdon  .  and  sefre  swa  hi  near  and  near  eodon  .  hi  fundon 
selcne  stan  on  o'Serne  befegedne  .  and  ymbe  (5aene  ojjerne  djeg  hi 
tSses  scrsefes  locstan  ut  al/nedon  .  pcet  hi  eacSelice  mihton  ingdn  . 
and  eaj^elice  utgan.     Da  gelamp  hit  pcet  god  wolde  pcet  seo  halige 

428  geferrseden  aweht  beon  sceolde  .  pe  on  ?5am  scrsefe  tile  hwile 
gereste  hsefdon.  And  he  Sa  ure  hgelend  se  pe  unborenum  cildum 
lif  sylcS  on  heora  modra  innoSe  .  and  se  J^e  mid  his  anwealde  tSa 
forsearedon  bdn  wec?5  of  dea'Se  .  and  se  pe  eac  lazarum  to  life 

432  gewende  .  and  hine  ymbe  j^reo  dagas  tSses  pe  he  bebyrged  waes  of 
deaSe  awehte  .  he  sylf  synderlice  mid  his  agenre  dsede  pas  seofon 
halgan  pe  on  t5am  scrsefe  slepon  he  hi  awehte  'Sa  of  tSam  slsepe  . 
and  hi  sa^ton  ealle  upp  gesunde  sefter  heora  agenum  gewunan  and 

436  heora  sealmas    sungon  .  for-Si  him   nses  nan   deatSes   mearc   on 
*  Ssere,  alt.  to  ^sera.  *  ealre,  alt,  to  ealra.  '  Leaf  114. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  513 

once  repented  Him  of  his  grievous  purpose,  and  would  no 
longer  keep  him  afflicted,  neither  would  He  likewise  longer  per- 
mit that  His  holy  people  should  lie  in  heresy;  but  He,  for  His  416 
great  mercy,  both  granted  comfort  to  the  good  emperor,  and  very 
soon  afterwards  He  willed  to  manifest  to  all  the  people,  what  each 
man  ought  to  believe  with  certainty,  and  so  He  very  opportunely 
delivered  His  Holy  Church  from  the  vexation  of  heretics,  and  4^° 
by  the  deed  thus  wrought  He  revealed,  by  His  bright  and  true 
light,  the  future  Resurrection  of  all  of  them.  > 

Then,  at  the  time  when  the  Christian  and  good  Theodosius  was 
fully  trusting  in  God  Almighty,  as  many  of  his  ancestors  had  done  4H 
before  him,  and  was  very  earnestly  bemoaning  to  God  his  need,  it 
befell  in  the  days  when  these  aforesaid  things  happened,  that  God 
Almighty  provided  a  very  prudent  man,  who  owned  possession 
over  all  the  plot  on  the  Ceiiau  Hill,  in  the  midst  of  which  was  the  428 
cave  wherein  the  seven  Saints  lay  sleeping.     He  then,  this  same 
good  man,  let  his  shepherd-boys'  cots  be  reared  there  all  about  the 
hill,  that  they  might  lie  there  handy  to  their  lord's  cattle,  and 
might  defend  themselves   against    cold  and   against   heat.     And  43 2 
they,  diligently,  the  shepherd-boys,  as  well  as  their  hand-mates 
(companions)  for  about  two  days  were  employed  in  the  work  con- 
tinually, until,  being  nearly  wearied  out,  they  came  where   the 
seven  Saints  lay  very  near ;    and  they  there  soon,  unexpectedly,  43^ 
turned  over  the  very  fast-set  hewn  stone  ;  and  ever,  as  they  went 
nearer  and  nearer,  they  found  one  stone  joined  on  to  another ;  and 
just  on  the  second  day  they  set  free  the  keystone  of  the   cave, 
so  that  they  could  easily  go  in  and  easily  go  out.     Then  it  hap-  440 
pened  that  God  willed  that  the  holy  company  should  be  awaked 
who  had  rested   in   the  cave  a  fitting  time.     And  He  then,  our 
Saviour — He  Who  to  unborn  children  giveth  life  in  their  mother's 
womb.  He  Who  by  His   power  waketh   from   death   the  seared  444 
bones.  He  Who  also  brought  Lazarus  to  life,  and  awaked  him  from 
death  about  three  days  after  he  was  buried — He  Himself  extra- 
ordinarily, by  His  own  deed,   awaked  them,  those  seven  Saints 
who  slept  in  the  cave,  from  sleep  ;  and  they  all  sat  up  in  sound  44^ 
ealth  after  their  own  manner,  and  sung  their  psalms  ;  for  thero 

33 


514  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMTENTIBUS. 

gesewen  .  ne  heora  reaf  nseron  nan  j^ingc  mo'Sfretene  .  ac  aegtSer  ge 
Jja  ilcan  reaf  pe  heom  on  uppan  lagon  .  waeron  ealle  gesunde  .  and 
heora  Iialgan  lichaman  hi  gesawon  call  blowende  .  and  ealle  hi 

440  16ton  swilce  hi  on  sefen  slepon  .  and  sona  Saes  on  morgen  of  t5am 
slsepe  awd,cedon  .  and  pcet  ilce  gej^anc  and  seo  sylfe  carfulnyss  ^  jje 
heom  amang  ]?am  niht-slaepe  wees  on  heora  heortan  .  eall  J)a  hi 
awacodon  hi  pcet  sylfe  gejjohton  .  and  hi  nan  o)?er  tSing  nyston  . 

444  buton  pcet  decius  se  casere  hete  heora  gec^pan  .  and  tSa  hi  'Sus 
dreorigende  f)ohton  and  mid  heora  modes  unrotnysse  tearas  al6ton ; 
jja  besawon  hi  ealle  to  malche  pe  wses  heora  geferena  dn  .  and  wses 
he  eac  heora  'Sening-mann  .  and  hi  hine  J^a  dxodon  .  hwaet  he  on 

448  aefen  gehyrde  pcet  man  be  heom  sprsece  on  porte  .  He  andwyrde  pa, 
malchus  .  and  cwsetJ  to  his  geferum  .  pcet  ic  eow  to  aefen  ser  ssede 
pcBt  ilce  ic  eow  nu  segce.  Jjset  mann  us  toniht  ofer  eall  sohte  .  and 
us  man    georne   gehwar  axode  .  pcet  we  deofulgyldum   sceoldon 

452  offrian  .  and  decius  se  casere  is  nu  gyt  smeagende  hwaet  we  ge- 
faran  habban  .  oStSe  hwaer  he  us  msege  ofaxian;  nu  wdt  ure 
drihten  pcet  we  'Saes  nane  )?earfe  nagon  .  pcet  we  him  aefre  fram 
abugan ;  ]?a  andwyrde  maximianus  and  cwaecS  to  his  g^broSrum  , 

45^  gif  hit  swa  sceal  gewurtJan  pcet  mann  us  her  finde  and  mann  us  for 
godes  naman  to  cSam  casere  Isede  .  we  edc  sona  'Sider  faran  ealle 
swiSe  gearwe  .  and  we  (Saer  aetforan  him  standon  us  gearwe  .  and 
be-hate  swilc  wite  swilc  he  us  behate  .  we  ndn  J^ingc  ne  beon 

460  ofdraedde  .  ne  we  uran  aerran  life  ne  wi]?sacan  naefre  .  pcet  we 
habban  clsenlice  godes  lof  mid  us  gehealden  o(5  cSis  .-Jjurh  j^one 
halgan  geleafan  |78es  lifigendan  godes  sunu  ^  .  and  hi  c5a  ge-bro(5ru 
clypedon  to  malche  .  and  him  to  cwaedon  ;  nim  nu  bro]3or  sumne 

464  dtel  feos  mid  pe  and  far  to  porte  mid  .  and  us  sumne  dael 
hlafes  bige  .  and  of-axa  georne  'Saes  (5e  Jju  maege  .  hwaet  se 
casere  be  us  geboden  haebbe  .  and  do  us  eft  ealle  gewisse  Jsaes  pe  ]3U 
ofaxie  .  and  bige  us  swa  tSeah  rumlicor  to-daeg  be  hlafe  )3onne  Su 

468  gebohtest  gyrstan  daeg  .  'and  bring  us  bet  behlaf  ponne  Su  ^r 
brohtest  .  forjion  pe  pa  hlafas  waeron  switSe  ea'Selice  pe  us  gyrstan 


*  Leaf  114,  back.  ^  Sic;  read  suna. 

'  Leaf  115. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  515 

was  no  mark  of  death  seen  upon  them,  neither  was  their  clothing 
at  all  moth-eaten  ;  but  botli  the  very  same  clothes  which  lay  upon 
them  were  all  sound,  and  their  holy  bodies  they  saw  all  blooming.  453 
They  all  supposed  that  they  had  slept  in  the  evening,  and  soon 
after   in   the   morning   had   awaked   from  sleep ;    and   the    same 
thought  and  the  same  anxiety  which  was  in  their  hearts  during 
their  night-sleep,  the  same  things  they   thought   of  when   they  456 
awoke,  and  they  knew  no  other  thing  save  that  Decius  the  emperor 
had  bidden  to  seize  them;  and  when  they  thought  thus,  being 
grieved,  and  on  account  of  their  miuds'  sadness,  they  let  fall  tears. 
Then  they  all  looked  to  Malchus  who  was  one  of  their  companions,  460 
and  he  was  also  their  steward ;  and  they  then  asked  him  what  he 
had  heard  in  the  evening  that  people  said  about  them  in  the  town. 
Then  he,  Malchus,  answered,  and  said  to  his  companions,  "  That 
which  I  said  to  you  before  in  the  evening,  that  same  I  now  say  to  464 
you,  that  men  sought  us  to-night  everywhere,  and  asked  diligently 
everywhere   for   us,  that  we  might   sacrifice   to    the   idols ;  and 
Decius  the  emperor  is  even  now  considering  where  we  have  gone, 
or  where  he  may  seek  us  out ;  now  knoweth  our  Lord  that  we  468 
have  no  need  of  this,  that  we  should  ever  swerve  from  Him." 

Then  answered  Maximianus,  and  said  to  his  brethren,  "  If  it 
shall  so  happen  that  men  find  us  here,  and  lead  us  for  God's  name 
to  the  emperor,  let  us  straightway  go  thither  very  readily,  and  472 
let    us   there   stand  readily  before   him,   and  let  him   command 
such  punishment  as  he  may  command  us.     Let  us  not  be  at  all 
affrighted,  neither  let  us  ever  deny  our  former  life,  that  we  have 
purely  kept  up  the  praise  of  God  amongst  us  until  now,  through  476 
the  holy   faith   of  the  Son   of  the  living  God."     And  they,  the 
brothers,  cried  to  Malchus  and  said  to  him ;  "  Take  now,  brother, 
a  sum  of  money  with  thee,  and  go  to  the  town  with  it  and  buy 
us  a  portion  of  bread ;  and  enquire  diligently,  as  well  as  thou  canst,  480 
what  the  emperor  may  have  commanded  concerning  us  ;  and  do 
us  all  again  to  wit  of  that  which  thou   mayest  learn.     Buy  us, 
however,    more   liberally   of   bread   to-day   than   thou   boughtest 
yesterday,  and  bring  us  better  bread  than  thou  before  broughtest ;  484 
because  the  loaves  weie  veiy  scanty  which  came  to  us  yegterday 

33-2 


516  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DOIIMIENTIBUK. 

sefen  comon;  swd  hi  leton  pi  halgan  .  and  ndn  oj^er  ne  wendon 
buton  Ipcet  hi  on  aefen  sl^pon  .  and  j^ses  on  morgen  awocon  .  and  he 
473  pa  sona  on  serne  mergen  ardsmalchus  heora  ]3ening-man  .  and  dyde 
eall  sw4  his  gewuna  wses  .  nam  )?a  mid  him  sumne  dsel  feos  .  swd 
micel  swd  hit  mihte  Leon  .  'Seah  swilce  hit  wsere  sum  tw4  and 
sixtig  penega  .  and  wses  |?aes  feos  ofergewrit  cSses  ylcan  mynetsleges 

476  pe  man  pcet  feoh  onsloh  .  sona  ]?ses  forman  geares  |5a  decius  feng  to 
rice  ;  Feower  si'Son  man  awende  mynet-isena  on  his  dagum  ,  pe  Sas 
halgan  (Sagyt  wunodon  onniang  o}?rum  mannum  .  and  on  pam 
frum-mynet-shege  wseron.twd,  and  sixtig  penega  gewihte  seolfres  on 

480  4nnm  penege  .  and  on  pasm  seftran  em  sixtig  .  and  on  ]?gem  J^ryd- 
dan  feower  and  feowertig  .  and  on  Jjain  feorj^an  git  Isesse  swa  hi 
hit  ]53er  heoldon ;  Da  waes  j^set  feoh  pcet  malclms  hsefde  f^ges  forman 
inynet-sla^ges  on  decies  naman ;    Donne  betweonan   decies   frum- 

484  mynet-slseges  dagum  pa  ]?as  halgan  into  pani  scrsefe  eodon  .  and 
be-tweonan  theodosius  timan  pe  "Sa  waes  casere  .  J?a  malchus  pcet 
feoh  bser  to  porte  .  be  ealdum  getele  wseron  Jja  agane  'Sreo  hund 
geara^,  and  twd  and  hund-seofontig  wintra    of  Sam  dsege  pe  'Sa 

488  halgan  slepon  .  to  'Sam  desge  j^e  hi  eft  awdcon  ;  and  he  "Sa  malchus 
sona  mid  Sam  dsege  eode  him  ut  of  Sam  screefe  .  and  ]5a  h^  }?3er-ute 
wses  .  Sa  geseah  he  hwser  ]7a  weorc-stanas  lagon  ofer  eall  j^ser  on- 
butan  .  and  he  healfuuga  ]78es  wundrode  .  f^eah  na  swiSe  erabe  pcet 

492  ne  smeade  .  ac  he  forht  of  ]78ere  dune  mid  micclan  ege  nyoereode  . 
and  he  J)anon  cleacode  swiSe  earhlice  to  porte  .  and  sefre  he  him 
wses  onsittende  pcet  hine  sum  man  gecneowe  .  and  hine  }?am  casere 
Jjserrihte  gecySde  .  and  he  nyste  se  halga  pcet  se  o}?er  earma  wses 

496  dead  .  ne  furSon  4n  ban  nsefde  he  mid  o]7rum  .  Ac  tosceenede  ofer 
eall  lagon  .  and  toworpene  geond  Sa  widan  eoi}?an ;  and  he  Jja 
malchus    ]:a   he    ful    gehende  ^  wiS  Sees    portes    geate    eode  .  |5a 

470.  0  (fol.    21)  begins  with~-a.iid  477.   siSan  ;    mlnet-iserna  ;    dagan 
hy  n^n  oJ)er  ne  wendan  {sic).                       \>n,  ):as. 

471.  0.  hi ;  ffifen  ;  mergen  awocan.  478.  wnnedan  ainaiigo])ranmannan. 

472.  om.  ])a  ;  merien  ;  fenig-iiiann.  479.  -mlnetslege    wseran  ;    syxtig  ; 
"473.  sum.                                                     sjlfres. 

474.  hit    ])awas   {sic;    for    micel  480.  ^nan penige  ;  syxtig ;  ])riddau. 
swii  hit)  ;  beon  ;  swylce  ;  ware.  48 1 .  J)an ;  gyt. 

475.  syxtig  ;  ralnet-.  482.  heoldan ;  ]>e  (for  Tpiet). 

476.  om.  j)a9t ;  gearas.  483.  minet-sleges ;  decius  timan. 

*  geai^,  all.  to  geara.  "  A.  inserts  wses,  which  0.  omits. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  517 

evening  :  "  for  they,  the  Saints,  supposed  and  thought  nothing  else, 
but  that  they  had  slept  in  the  evening,  and  after  that  awaked  in 
the  morning.     And  he  then,  Malchus  their  serving-man,  straight-  488 
way  arose  in  the  early  morning,  and  did  all  as  his  custom  was ; 
he  took  with  him  a  certain  sum  of  money,  as  much  as  might  be ; 
however,  it  might  be  some  two  and  sixty  pence,  and  the  supei-scrip- 
tion  of  the  money  was  of  the  very  minting  that  had  been  struck  in  493 
the  first  year  of  Decius'  succession  to  the  kingdom.     Four  times 
they  changed  the  coinajje  in  his  days  while,  the  Saints  still  dwelt 
among  other  men ;  and  in  the  first  minting  there  were  two  and  sixty 
pence  weight  of  silver  in  one  coin,  and  in  the  second  just  sixty,  496 
and  in  the  third  four  and  forty,  and  in  the  fourth  still  less,  as  they 
reckoned  it  there.     So  the  money  that  Malchus  had  was  of  the 
first  minting  in  Decius'  name.     So  between  the  days  of  the  first 
minting  of  Decius,  when  the  Saints  went  into  the  cave,  and  the  500 
time  of  Theodosius  who  then  was  emperor  when  Malchus  bare  the 
money  to  the  town,  by  the  old   reckoning,  there  had  past  three 
hundred  and  seventy-two  years,  from  the  day  that  the  Saints  slept 
to  the  day  when  they  again  awoke.     He  then,  Malchus,  at  once  at  504 
daybreak  went  out  of  the  cave  ;  and  when  he  was  out  of  it,  then  he 
saw  where  the  hewn  stones  lay  everywhere  thereabout,  and  he  in 
part  wondered  thereat,  though  he  did  not  consider  much  ab(jut  it ; 
but  he,  being  afraid,  went  down  from  the  hill  with  great  fear,  and  508 
he  thence  hurried   very  timidly  to    the   town,  and    ever   he   was 
vexing  himself  lest  some  man  should  recognise  him,  and  straight- 
way  make   him   known    to    the   emperor.     He,  the  Saint,  knew 
not  that  the  other,  miserable  man  !  was  dead,  and  had  not  even  512 
one   bone  [joined]  with    the   others,  but  [they]    lay   everywhere 
broken    to  pieces   and  thrown   about   over  the  wide  earth.     And 
as   he,  Malchus,   was  walking   quite   near  by  the  town-gate,  he 

484.  minetsleges ;  fan  scrife.  492.  ac  ;  dilne ;  O.  ins,  and  before 

485.  tinian;  ot».  casere.  mid;  nij)er-he6de  (s/c). 

486.  getealdan(/o?-ealdan);  wseran.  493.  fanan ;      [c]leiicode     8wyJ)ej 

487.  geara  (/or  wintra).  pdrte;  a-fre;  wees  him. 

488.  J)an  ;  awdcan.  494.  sum  man  hine ;  ])an. 

489.  scra;fe.  495.  gecydde;  he;  om.  wses  dead. 

490.  -stanes ;  ambutan.  496.  om.  he  ;  ojjran  ac  tosctenede. 

491.  O.  i)i8.  swa  after  he  ;   healf-  497.  call    wseran    and    towt)rpene 
lunga  ;    wundrade ;    swyj)e   embe   ne  lagan,  geond  ]>a,  widan, 

asmeade.  49!^.  port-gtatcs. 


518  XXIII.    DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

beseah  h6  |)ider-weard  .  and  beseah  to  pssre  halgan  cristes  r6de- 

500  tdcne  hwser  heo  uppan  ]?am  port-geate  stdd  mid  arwurtSnysse 
afsestnod  .  and  hine  Jjser  gelsehte  syllic  wundrung  .  and  on  Jjsere 
gesihtSe  hine  gestod  wiindorlic  wafung  .  and  he  stod  .  and  beheold  . 
and  him  wundorlic  j^uhte  .  and  he  seghwider  ^  beseah  on  seghwilce 

504  healfe  .  and  h6  hawode  on  pk  rode  .  and  hit  him  eall  wundorlic 
tSuhte  .  and  he  j?ohte  on  his  mode  hwset  hit  beon  sceolde  .  and  he 
Sa  Jjanon  to  oJ)ran  port-geate  eode  ,  and  he  pa.  eft  sona  geseah  |>a 
halgan  rode  .  and  he  |?ses  wundrode  J?earle  .  and  he  pa  port-geatv^ 

508  ealle  be-eode  .  and  he  geseah  uppan  selcon  jia  halgan  rode  standan  . 
and  eall  he  wies  ful  wundrunge  and  wafunge  .  and  eac  Jja  byrig  he 
geseah  eall  on  oj^re  wisan  gewend  .  on  ojjre  heo  ser  wses  .  and  pa 
gebotla  geond  pa  byrig  eall  getimbrode  on  o]?re  wisan  on  o}>re  hi 

512  ae'r  wseron  ,  and  h6  ndn  ]?incg  J^sere  byrig  ne  cuj^e  gecnawan  pe  ma 
pe  se  man  pe  hi  nsefre  ne  geseah  mid  his  eagan  .  and  pa  he  wun- 
drigende  J)ohte  swilce  hine  on  niht  msette;  Jja  gecyrde  he  eft  to 
Sam  ylcan  portgeate  pe  he  serest  tocom  .  and  he  |)ohte  on  his 

516  heortan  .  and  cwoecS  to  him  sylfum  .  hwset  J)is  sefre  beon  sceole  fse'r- 
lices  .  pcet  ic  h6r  geseo  swd  wunderlices  .  pcet  gyrstan  sefen  on  ealre 
Sisre  byrig  j^sere  halgan  rode-tacna  {sic)  nahwae'r  uses  gesyne  .  and 
heo  nu  [geond]  eall  is  geswutelod  .  and  on  selcon  port-geate  is  nu 

520  to-daeg  gefsestnod  ;  and  he  eft  sona  })ohte  on  his  mode  .  and  his 
hand  up  ahof  .  and  seuode  hine  sylfne  and  Jjus  cwoet5  .  god  sel- 
mihtig  gebletsige  me  .  [hwaej^er  hit  furj^on  sot5  sy  oSSe]  hwsetSer 
me  on  swefne  maete  eall  pcet  ic  her  geseo  fserlices  wundres  .  and  he 

524  sefter  |3ysum  ge]?ance  .  teah  him  elnunge  to  be  dsele  .  and  bewdnd 
his  heafod  mid  anum  cla'Se  .  and  earhlice  eode  into  [}?am]  porte  . 
and  bearh  him  sylfum  ewicSe  georne  .  and  j^a  he  com  ful  neah 
into  []?0ere]   cypinge   jjser  gehwilce  men   [heora  ceap   be ...  an    . 

499.  be    ])yder-  ;    and    he    geseah       dorlice. 

J)sere  ;  o>w.  cristes;  rodetacn.  506.  ]>2er  (for  jm) . 

500.  hit  (for  hei))  ;  stod.  507.  J)aes  he. 

501.  hyne  ])ser ;  swylc  (for  syllic);  508.  O.  itw.  ])a  bef.  ealle. 
om.  and.  509.  full ;  birig. 

502    gestod  wundorlice ;  stod.  510.  o8er ;    om.   wisan;    om.   on; 

503.  om.   him ;     wundorlice ;     aeg-       oSer ;  £er. 

hwyder ;  gehwylce.  511.  botla     gynd  ;      getymbrade  ; 

504.  he  hawede  ;    Jja    rode  ;    wun-       om.  on ;  oJ)er  hy. 

*  Leaf  115,  back.  ^  port-geate,  alt.  to  port-geatv. 


XXIII.    THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  519 

looked   thitherward,    and  beheld  the  holy  sign   of  the  cross  of  516 
Christ,  where    it   stood   fastened   with  honour   above   the   town- 
gate  ;  and  thereupon  extraordinary  wondering  seized  him,  and  at 
the  sight  wondrous  amazement  came  upon  him,  and  he  stood  and 
beheld,  and  it  seemed  marvellous  to  him;  and  he  beheld  every-  520 
where  on  every  side,  and  he  gazed  at  the  rood,  and  it  seemed  all 
wonderful  to  him  ;  and  he  thought  in  his  mind  what  it  might  be. 
Then  he  went  thence  to  another  town-gate,  and  he  again  saw  the 
holy   rood,   and  he  wondered  exceedingly  thereat ;   and  then   he  524 
visited  all  the  town-gates,  and  saw  the  holy  rood  standing  upon 
each  one,  and  he  was  all  full  of  wondering  and  amazement ;  more- 
over he  saw  the  city  turned  all  into  another  kind  from  what  it  was 
before,  and  the  dwellings  throughout  the  city  all  built  in  another  528 
fashion   from  what   they  were   before  ;    and   he   could   recognise 
no  part  of  the  city,  any  more  than  the  man  who  had  never  seen 
it  with  his  eyes.     And  while  he,  thus  wondering,  thought  that  he 
was  dreaming  in  the  night,   then  he  turned  again  to  the   same  5.^2 
town-gate  at  which  he  had  first  arrived,  and  he  thought  in  his 
heart  and  said  to  himself,  "  Whatever  marvel  may  this  chance  to 
be,  that  I  see  here  so  wonderfully,  that  yesterday  evening  in  all 
this  city  the  sign  of  the  holy  cross  was  nowhere  visible,  and  now  53^ 
it  is  everywhere  manifest,  and  is  to-day  fastened  on  each  town- 
gate  t"     And   he  again    thought  in  his    miud,  and  lifted  up  his 
hand,  and  crossed  himself  and  thus  said ;  "  God  Almighty  bless 
me  !  is  it  all  true,  or  do  I  dream  in  sleep  all  the  strange  wonder  540 
that  I  see  here  1 "    And  he,  after  this  thought,  partly  took  comfort, 
and  enwrapped  his  head  with   a  cloth,   and   timidly  went   into 
the  town,  and  sheltered  himself  vei'y  carefully  ;  and  so  he  came 
very  near  to  the  market  where  all  men  sold  their  ware.     Then  544 

512.  O.  ins.  arserede  hef.  wseron.  521.  hand  he  upp. 

513.  by;  he  wses  wundriende.  522.  me  gebletsige.    O.  tns.  hwsel)er 

514.  oni.  fohte;  swylce;  cyrde.  hit  furjjon   BO'S  sy  otSSe,  which  MS. 

515.  J)an;  om.  secondhe.  Jul.  omits. 

516.  sylfan;  ferlices.  524.  J'ysan;   to  elnunge  be  daele; 

517.  her;  swa wundorlices ;  eallre.  bewand. 

518.  Jjysse  ;    rodetacn   nawer.  525.  anan  ;  O.  tn?.  fam. 

519.  hit  {for  heo) ;  0.  inserts geond,  526.  sylfan  swyj)e. 

which   MS.  Jul.  omits;  his  {/or  is);  527.  0.  m(».  ))ii>re;  cypingce  ;  menu  ; 

ffilcan ;  om,  is.  O.  ins.  heora  ceap  be . . .  an.    f>a  gehyrde 

520.  afsestnod.  he  hu  })a  nienn,  which  MS.  Jul.  omits. 


5.20  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIEN'TIBUS. 

528  pa  gehjrde  he  hu  J?a  menu]  him  betwynan  spraecon  and  oft  , 
and  gelome  cristes  helda  sworon  .  and  hi  ndne  sprsece  pxr  ne 
drifon  butan  sefre  em  be  cristes  naman  ,  pa  he  swilce  sprsece 
gehyrde  .  (5a    ondrsed    malchus    him   ]?earle  .   and   he    (Sees   eall 

5.^2  forhtode  .  and  cwoetS  on  his  mode  .  La  hwset  j^is  sefre  beon  scyle 
]}cet  ic  h6r  wundres  gehyre  .  ser  ic  geseah  micel  wunder  .  nu  ic 
gehyre  miccle  mare  .  gyrstan  sefen  ndn  man  ne  mihte  cristes 
naman   nemnian   mid   hihte  .  and  nu    to-dneg  on    selces  mannes 

536  mannes  tungan  cristes  nania  is  aefre  on  foreweardan  ;  Da  .  cwoe'S  . 
he  eft  to  him;  sylfum  .  to  soSan  ne  JjincS  me  naefre  pcet  hit  soS  sy 
Tpcet  }3is  sy  efesa  byrig  .  forSy  eall  heo  is  on  ojjre  wisan  gestaSelod  . 
and  eall  mid  o)5rum  botlum  getimbred  .  ne  ^  her  nan  man  ne  spricS 

540  dn  hse'Senra  manna  wisan  .  ac  ealle  sefter  cristenra  manna  ge- 
wunan ;  pa,  witJgynde  he  eft  his  geSance  .  and  him  |?us  andwyrde ; 
ac  ic  nat  eftsona  .  ne  ic  nsefre  git  nyste  pcet  senig  oj^er  byrig  us 
waere  gehende  buton  ephese  anre  h6r  on  em  celian  dune  .  and  h6 

544  stod  ]?8er  stille  ane  lytle  hwile  .  and  ]?ohte  on  him  sylfum  hwaet  his 
sotSes  wsei^e;  Da  ofseah  he  aenne  geongne  man  .  and  code  him  to 
]38eui  ylcan  .  and  ongan  bine  axian  and  cwob(5  .  lA  wel  gedo  tSe 
goda*^  man  .  ic  wolde  georne   set   tSe   gewitan  Jjissere  byrig  riht 

5-0  naman  .  gif  pxi  me  woldest  gewissigan  ;  Da  cwobS  se  geonga  mann 
to  him  .  ic  pe  wille  full  hrat5e  secgan  .  ephese  ^  hatte  }?eos  burh  . 
and  heo  wel  gefyrn  swd  gehaten  wses.  Da  }5ohte  h6  on  his  mode  . 
and  cwoecS  .  to  him  sylfum  .  nu  ic  wses  of  J?am  rihtan  wege  mines 

552  iugejjances  .  dc  betere  hit  bitS  pcet  ic  eft  fare  tit  of  J?ysum  porte 
(Sylses  pe  ic  to  svvicSe  dwelige  .  and  for-)5y  pomie  ne  cume  to  minum 
geferum  pe  me  aer  hyder  sendon ;  gewislice  ic  li6r  ongyten  hsebbe 
p(et  me  hsefS  gelseht  fseste  mines  modes  oferstige  .  pcet  ic  ndt  na 

556  forgeare  hu  ic  hit  J?us  raacige  ;  Eall  he  malchus  rehte  [eft]  his  geferum 

529.   spaece  ))aer.  539.  o})ran  botlan  getimbrad ;  her; 

5  ,^0.  drifan ;  era  ;  swylce.  mann  ;  spycS. 

531.  ondred  he  malchus.  .'540.  eall. 

533.  her;  wundor  (/or  wunder).  541.  0.  inserts   ahenan    {sic)   he/. 

£;3|.  myccle.  ge))ance. 

537.  sylfan.  542.  nat  na  eftsona ;  nsefre  gyt. 

538.  ^phesa ;  gestajjelad.  543.  0.    ins.    sefre     ct/ter    waere ; 

'  Leaf  ii6-  "  g'jde,  alt.  to  goda,  '  ephefe,  alt.  to  ephese. 


XXIII.    THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  5  J 1 

he  lieard  how  the  men  spake  amongst  themselves,  and  often  and 
frequently  swore  allegiance  to  Christ,  and  they  used   no  speech 
there  save  ever  about  Christ's  name.    When  he  heard  such  speech, 
then  Malchus  feared  exceedingly,  and  he  was  utterly  frightened  548 
thereat,  and  said  in  his  mind,  "  Lo  !  whatever  can  this  be  that  I 
hear  woudrously  here  ?    At  fiist  I  saw  a  great  wonder,  now  I  hear 
one  still  greater ;  yesterday  evening  no  man  could  name  Christ's 
name  with  safety,  and  now  to-day  on  every  man's  tongue  Christ's  552 
name  is  ever  in  the  chief  place."     Then  said  he  again  to  himself, 
"  Truly  it  never  seemeth  to  me  that  it  can  be  true  that  this  is  the 
city  of  Ephesus,  because  it  is  all  ordered  in  another  manner  and  all 
built  with  other  dwellings ;  neither  does  any  man  here  speak  in  the  556 
manner  of  heathen  men,  but  all  after  the  customs  of*Chti8tian 
men."     Then  he  changed  his  thoughts  again,  and  answered  him- 
self thus,  "  But  again  I  know  not,  neither  knew  I  ever  yet,  that 
any  other  city  was  near  to  us  except  Ephesus  alone,  here  just  560 
beside  the  Celian  Hill ; "  and  he  stood  there  still  a  little   while, 
and    thought  within    himself  what    truth  there   might    be    in   it. 
Then  he  saw  a  young  man,  and  went  to  the  same,  and  began  to 
ask  him,  and  said,  "  Lo  !  well  may  it  be  with  thee,  good  man  !  5^4 
I  earnestly  desire  to  know  from  thee  the  right  name  of  this  city, 
if  thou  wilt  inform  me."     Then  said  the  young  man  to  him,  "  I 
will  tell  thee  full  quickly  ;  this  city  is  called  Ephesus,  and  it  was 
thus  called  from  a  very  early  time."    Then  he  thought  in  his  mind,  568 
and  said  to  himself,  "  Now  I  was  in  the  right  way  in  my  inward 
thought,  but  better  will  it  be  that  I  go  out  of  this  town  again 
lest   I   be  too  greatly  bewildered,  and   so    may  not  come  to  my 
comrades  who  erewhile  sent  me  here ;  certainly  I  have  here  per-  572 
ceived   that  the  over  anxiety  of  my  mind  hath  here  seized  me, 
so  that  I  know  not  very  certainly  why  I  thus  act."     (He,  Malchus, 

butan  ;  anra  her  on  ne  {sic)  in  celian.  550.  gefirn. 

544.  title;  sylfan.  551.  silfan  ;  riht. 

545.  mann;  ojrt.  hira.  552.   ac;  om.  hit  bi^. 
.    546.  ]>:\n;  ahbian  ;  oj«.  and  cwsetJ ;  5=13.  minan. 

la  wel  gedo.  554.  geferan ;      ssendan  ;      ongyte 

547.  mann  ;  out.  georne  ;  J)ysre.  "  {for  ongyten  hisbbe). 

548.  wissian  ;  uvi.  mann.  556.  O.  ins.  eft  twice,  after  he  ami 

549.  byrig.  offer  rehte  ;  geft^ran. 


522  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

hu  him  gelamp  on  ealhim  |?isum  j^ingum  pa,  he  eft  heom  ^  to  com 
on  ]?am  scra3fe  |?e  w6  ser  fore-ssedon  .  and  j^a  heora  seo  wundorlice 
serist  eallum  mannum  wses  geopened  and  heora  pcet  halige  lif  call 

560  geswutelod  ;  and  h6  malchus  Jja  him  swd  wundorlice  J?uhte  eall  \)cet 
he  geseah  and  gehyrde  .  tSa  mid  'Sy  pe  he  wolde  g4n  ut  of  (Sam 
porte  .  he  tSa  on  gelmes-mannes  hiwe  code  jjyder  full  wel  gehende 
peer  man  hlaf  sealde  to  ceape  .  and  tSa  he  ]?yder  com  .  he  sona  teah 

564  penegas  of  his  bosme  .  and  hi  wiS  hlafe  J^am  cepe-men  sealde  ,  and 
hi  pa  cype-men  swi]?e  georne  J)a  penegas  sceawodon  .  and  hi  swilces 
feos  fregnSearle  wundredon  .  and  hi  ]3a  penegas  J^ser  to  wsefersyne 
beheoldon  .  and  fram  hence  to  hence   heom  betweonan   rsehton 

568  [and]  to  sceawigenne  eowodon  .  and  heom  betweonan  cwsedon ; 
butan  tMPeon  hit  is  socS  pcet  we  ealle  h6r  geseotS .  poet  J>aes  uncu]?a 
geonga  cniht  switSe  ealdne  goldhord  wel  gefyrn  ^  funde  .  and  hine 
nu  manega  gear  dearnunga  behydde;  Da  J^a  malchus  geseah  pcet 

572  man  his  penegas  swa  georne  sceawode  .  he  ondred  him  pa  switSe 
hearde  .  and  eall  j^ser  he  stdd  he  cwacode  and  bifode  .  and  for  an 
wende  pcet  selc  J?ara  manna  hine  gecneowe  .  and  cwoecS  .  J^a  on  his 
ge'Sance ;  Wella  min  drihteji  .  hwset  ic  h6r  nu  hreowlice  haebbe  ge- 

576  faren  .  ne  maeg  ic  me  nanes  oj^res  wenan  .  buton  poet  hi  nu  me  to 
decie  gelsedon  .  ]?onne  ne  mgeg  ic  ndn  gewis  bringan  to  minum 
geferum  ;  and  Jja  beheoldon  switJe  georne  J?a  cype-men  hine  .  and 
be  him   on  gepance  smeadon  hwaet  manna  he   beon  sceolde;  Da 

580  cwceS  .  he  to  heom  ^  eallum  earhlicon  wordum  .  La  leof  ic  bidde 
eow  swa  georne  tycSia'S  me  J?3es  'Se  ic  gyrne  .  J^ser  ge  habba'5  J)a 
penegas  on  handa  .  ateo]?  hi  swa  swd  ge  willaS  .  ne  gyrne  ic  set 
eow  nanes  hlafes  .  ac  ealra  manna  bruce  ge  betst  sdgpves  ge  penega 

584  ge  hlafa  ;  Da  he  Jjus  waes  to  heom  ^  sprecende  .  and  swa  hreowlice 

557,  eallan  ])isan  ])ingan.  565.  cypmenn;  psenegassceawadan. 

558.  })an ;   we  eow  oft  foressedon ;  566.  fregenjearle  wundredan  ;    his 
MS.  Jul.  om.  eow.                                        (for  hi  Jja), 

560.  geswutelad;  he;  0.  (fol.   20)  567.  beheoldan ;     bengce    (twice); 
begins  at  )*uhte.  him  ;  rsehtan. 

561.  om.'Sa,;  lit;  })an.  568.  0.  ins.  and,  u-hich  MS.  Jul. 

562.  om.  wel.  omits;    sceawienne   edwedan;    him; 

563.  mann.  cwisdan. 

564.  om.  his;  om.  ])am  cepe-men.  569.  twedn;  her;  pes. 

'  him,  alt.  to  heom.  °  Leaf  116,  back. 


XXIII.     THE   SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  523 

aftei'wards  related  all  to  his  companions,  how  it  happened  to  him 

in  all  these  things,  when  he  came  again  to  them  in  the  cave,  of  576 

which  we  before  spake,  and  when   their  wonderful   arising   was 

revealed  to  all  men,  and  their  holy  life  was  all  manifested).     And 

he,  Malchus,  when  everything  that  he  saw  and  heard  seemed  so 

wonderful  to  him,  and  as  he  desired  to  go  out  of  the  town,  yet  580 

went  he  in  the  disguise  of  a  beggar  very  near  where  they  were 

selling  bread  in  the  market ;  and  when  he  came  thither,  he  at  once 

drew  pennies  out  of  his  bosom,  and  gave  them  to  the  market-men, 

in  exchange  for  bread  ;  and  they,  the  market-men,  looked  at  the  584 

pennies  very  earnestly,  and  they  wondered  enquiringly  at  seeing 

such  money,  and   they  beheld   the   pennies   there  as  a  curiosity, 

and  handed  them  over  amongst  themselves  from  bench  to  bench, 

and  showed  [them]  to  be  looked  at,  and  said  among  themselves,  588 

"  Without  doubt  that  which  we  all  see  here  is  true,  that  this  unknown 

young  man  hath  found  very  long  ago  a  very  old  gold-treasure,  and 

hath  hid  it   secretly  now  for  many  years."     But  when  Malchus 

saw  that  they  looked  at  his  pennies  so  earnestly,  he  feared  then  592 

very  greatly,  and  all  as  he  stood  there  he  quaked  and  trembled, 

thinking  only  that  every  man  recognised  him,  and  said  then  in 

his  thought,   "  Alas,  my  Lord,  what !  how  pitiably  have  I  now 

fared  here  !  nor  can  I  expect  for  myself  anything  else,  but  that  596 

they  will  now  take  me  to  Decius ;   then  can  I  bring  no  certain 

news  to  my  companions."     And  then  the  chapmen  looked  at  him 

very  earnestly,  and  considered  in  thought  about  him,  what  manner 

of  man  he  might  be.     Then  said  he  to  them  all  with  timid  words  ;  600 

"  Lo  !  Masters  !  I  pray  you  very  earnestly,  grant  me  that  which  I 

seek ;  there  ye  have  the  pennies  in  hand,  employ  them  even  as  ye 

will.     I  desire  from  you  no  bread,  but  ye,  best  of  all  men,  may 

keep  both  pennies  and  bread."  ^°4 

570.  8wy))e ;  gefim.  8wy})e  georne  ]>&  cypmenn  hu  georne 

572.  sceawede;  ondr^d  ;  swyj)e.  hy  bine  beheoldan. 

573-  cwacede;  bifede.  579.  smeadan;  mihte  (/or  sceolde). 

574.  Jiare.  580.  eallan  earhlican  worda. 

576.  om.  me;    hy  me  her  nu  ge-  581.  tiSiaS ;  om.'Se;  gyrnan  (xtc). 
laeccan  and  me  to  decie  gelsedan.  582.  paenegas  ;  hy  swa  ge. 

577.  bringan  nan  gewiss ;  minan.  583.  eallra;  betst  bruce  ge  feg))er. 

578.  geferan  ;   for   the   clause   be-  584.  to  him  wses. 
heoldon  . .  .  hine,  0.  hag  he  beheold 


524  XXIII.     UE    SEPTEM    D0RMIENTI13US. 

his  ceap  gedrifan  hgefde  .  lii  sona  ealle  up  stoclon  .  and  bine  on 
heora  handa  lieoldon  .  and  him  to  cwsedon  ;  Sege  us  hwset  manna  ]7U 
sy  .  oJ?]?e  hwanon  pu  cumen  sy  .  J?e  pu  J?us  eald  feoh  gemettest  . 

588  and  |dus  eakle  penegas.hider  brohtest  .  j^e  on  gefyrn-dagum  ge- 
slsegeue  wseron  on  yldrena  timan  .  sege  us  nu  poet  soSe  buton  selcon 
lease  .  and  we  beoS  Jjine  geholan  .  and  ealne  wseg  J^ine  mid-sprecan; 
ne    we  nellatS  pe  ameldian  .  Ac  hit  call  stille  leetan  .  pcet  hit  n4n 

592  man  ne  peavi  geaxian  buton  us  sylfura  ;  psi  wees  malchus  ofwundrod 
heora  sprsece  .  and  ]?ohte  sarig  on  his  mode  .  and  cwoeS  .  be  him 
sylfum  to  pam  cype-mannum  .  syllice  is  me  anum  gelumpen  .  and 
earmlice  hsebbe  ic  ana  gefaren  toforan  eallum  mannum  geond  }3as 

596  widan  eorcSan ;  JElcon  o]?ran  men  is  alyfed  J^e  on  J?ysan  life  byS 
gestreoned  .  pcet  he  of  his  yldrena  gestreone  bine  sylfne  fercian 
mote  .  ac  me  anon  wreccan  |?aes  ndn  Jjincg  ne  mseg  gehelpan ;  nu 
me  is  min  agen  setwiten  swilce  ic  bit  hsebbe  forstolen  .  and  man 

600  mid  witum  ofgan  willa'S  i<ei  me  .  pcet  ic  mid  rihtan  f)ingon  begyten 
hgefde  ;  Da  ancZwyrdon  }?a  cypemen  .  and  him  tocwoedon  .  nese  nese 
leofa  man  .  ne  miht  |?u  us  na  sw4  bepse^cean  ^  mid  fiinan  smecSan 
wordan  .  se  goldhord  pe  Jju  gemettest  and  bine  lange  bedyrndest  . 

604  he  ne  inadg  beon  forholen  .  nu  hit  sw4  upp  is  aboren ;  he  nyste 
hwylc  andwyrde  he  heom^  syllan  sceolde  for  Jjam  micclan  ogan  .  pe 
him  on  mode  waes ;  Da  hi  gesawon  pcet  he  stod  J)8er  stille  .  and  him 
nan  J^incg  ne  geandwyrde  .  hi  fengon  him  sona  on  .  and  becnytton 

608  anne  wrij?an  call  onbutan  his  swuran  .  and  bine  |5anon  ealle  atugan 
tomiddes  ]78ere  cypinge  .  and  bine  man  heold  on  middan  Jjsere  byrig 
swa  gebundenne  .  and  hit  sprang  }5a  geond  eall .  and  wses  sona  wide 
en's  .  and  ealle  men  geond  pa  byrig  union  }?yder  sona  .  and  mid 

612  gehlyde  selc  .  cwceS  .  to  oj^ran  .  pcet  J)8er  gelaeht  wsere  binnan  ]3sere 

585.  gedrifen  ;    Hy    sona  upp    a-           592.  geahsian   butan;    sylfan ;  of- 
st(5dan.  wundrad, 

586.  heoldan;  cwsedan.  594.  sylfan ;  ])an  cypmannan ;  anan. 

587.  hwanan;  ];u  J)a.  595.  eallan  rnannan  gynd. 

588.  gefirndagan.  596.  wyde;  ^Ican;  menn  his  (sic) 

589.  geslagene     waeran  ;  O.     ins.       alifed  ;   pysisan  life. 

casera   after    yldrena ;     cf.    1.    615  ;  597.  gestryned  ;  gestryne, 

butan  selcan.  598.  mdte  ;    avian   wreccan  ;    mdt 

590.  gehalan  ;  midspecan.  (  for  mseg)  ;  helpan. 

591.  0,  ins,  nahwern  {dc)  after  ]>e.  599.  min  jigen  is  letwitan  swylce. 

^  Leaf  117.  ^  bepjecan,  alt.  to  bepsecean.  ^  him,  alt.  to  heom. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLKEPEllS.  5.25 

While    he   was   speaking   thus   to  them,  and   had   thus   sadly 
driven  his  bargain,  they  at  once  all  stood  up,  and  held  him  in  their 
hands,  and  said  to  him  :  "  Tell  us  what  manner  of  man  thou  art, 
or  whence  thou  art  come,  since  thou  hast  thus  found  old  money.  608 
and  thus  hast  brought  hither  old  pennies  which  were  struck  in 
ancient  days  in  the  time  of  our  ancestors ;  tell  us  now  the  truth 
without  any  lie,  and  we  will  be  thy  defenders,  and  thy  advocates 
always  ;  neither  will  we  betray  thee,  but  let  it  all  be  quiet,  so  that  613 
no  man  need  learn  it  save  ourselves."     Then  was  Malchus  much 
astonished  at  their  speech  and  thought  sorrowfully  in  his  mind, 
and  said  about  himself  to  the  chapmen,  "  Strangely  Jiath  it  hap- 
pened to  me  alone,  and  miserably  have  I  alone  suffered  before  all  616 
men  over  this  wide  earth  ;  to  every  other  man  who  is  born  into 
this  life  it  is  permitted  that  he  may  support  himself  out  of  his  an- 
cestors' treasures,  but  to  me  only,  wretch  !  may  none  of  this  avail. 
Now  I  am  twitted  about  my  own  as  if  I  had  stolen  it,  and  they  620 
will  require  of  me  by  tortures  that  which  I  had  obtained  by  right 
means."     Then  answered  the  chapmen  and  said  to  him,  "  Nay,  nay, 
dear  man,  thou  canst  not  so  deceive  us  with  thy  smooth  words  ; 
as  for  the  gold-hoard  which  thou  hast  fouud  and  hast  so  long  con-  624 
cealed,  it  cannot  be  hidden  now  it  is  thus  discovered."   He  knew  not 
what  answer  he  should  give  them  on  account  of  the  great  awe  which 
was  in  his  mind.     When  they  saw  that  he  stood  there  still,  and 
answered  them  nothing,  forthwith  they  took  him,  and  knitted  a  6^8 
twist  all  about  his  neck,  and  all  dragged  hitn  thence  into  the  midst 
of  the  market,  and  they  held  him  thus  bound  amidst  the  city,  and 
it  spread  everywhere,  and  was  straightway  widely  known,  and  all 
men  over  the  city  immediately  ran  thither,  and  with  clamour  each  6j2 

600.  set  me  mid  wltum  ofgan  wile  ;       heom. 

jjingan.  607.  andswarude.  hy  fengan ;    be- 

601.  andwyrdan ;     cypmenn;     tp-       cnyttan. 

cwsedan.  608.  anbutan  ;     swe<5ran  ;    J)anan  ; 

602.  mann  ;   om.  us ;   sp^can  ( for       tugan. 

beotecean).  609.  O.  om.  cypinge  . .  .  ]>sere. 

603.  hord  {for  goldhord) ;  0.  (fol.  610.  gynd. 

32^  beginx  with  langa.  611.  menngynd  ;  urnan  ;  om.  ))yder 

604.  O.  ifiH.  na  before  beon.  sona. 

605.  him  sellan  ;  J)an.  612.  gehlfde;  ssede  (/or  cwae'S  to) ; 

606.  wijes  on  m6de  ;    hy  gesawan ;  om.  psere  byrig. 


526  XXIII.     DE    SEPTBM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

byrig  4n  uncutS  geong  man  pe  yldrena  gold-hord  sceolde  findan  . 
and  swiSe  eald  feoh  Jjyder  gebringan  .  pe  man  on  fyrndagum  sloh  . 
and  on  Saera  yldrena  casera  ^  timan  notodon  ^  .  and  Jjser  weartS  J?a 

6i6  gegaderod  wundorlice  micel  folc  .  and  ealle  men  wafedon  his  anes. 
Jjser  he  gebunden  stod  him  tomiddes  .  and  ofer  eall  hlydende  selc 
man  .  cwoeS  .  to  ojjrum.  Dys  is  sum  aelJ?eodig  man  of  suman 
o]3ran  earde  .  ne  gecnawe  w6  his  nan  Jjincg  .  ne  hine  ure  nan  ne 

620  geseah  nsefre  mid  his  eagan  sex;  and  he  malchus  ealle  pa  word 
gehyrde  .  and  sefre  wses  his  uneatSnys  wexende  .  and  he  Jjam  folce 
sefre  swa  georne  huru  mid  his  eadmodnysse  cweman  wolde  ,  p<Bt 
he  ]5urh  his  fullan  eadmodnysse  hreowan  sceolde  .  for]?y  he  ne  cuSe 

624  ne  ne  mihte  nane  tale  findan  .  ne  he  nyste  to  hwam  he  word 
sceolde  cwe?5an;  Jja  hine  synderlice  selc  man  beheold  .  and  hine 
nan  man  ne  cucSe  gecnawan  .  and  Jja  J^a  he  on  jjsere  micclan  his 
modes  wundrunge  Jjser  gestod  dreorig  .  and  swigende  .  pa  arn  him 

628  fserunga  to  gej^ance  .  pcet  he  switSe  micelne  truwan  hsefde  pcet  his 
magas  |?agit  on  Jjsere  byrig  leofodon  .  and  his  pcet  msere  cynn  pe 
wses  swij^e  namcutJ  eallum  folce  pe  he  J^ser  binnan  hsefde  .  and  him 
pa,  for  4n  Jjuhte  pcet  he  pses  gewiss  wsere  .  pcet  he  J^ses  on  sefen 

632  selcne  man  gecneowe  .  and  selc  gecneowe  hine  .  and  he  jjses  on 
morgan  ^nsenne  ne  gecneowe  .  ne  n4n  hine  .  ofjj^e  ndn  Jjridde  be 
him  sylfum  ne  16t  he  buton  gwilce  h6  of  his  gemynde  wsere  .  and 
h6  ]?A  mid  J?am  gejjance  on  pcet  folc  beseah  on  selce  healfe  .  wolde  . 

636  georne  sumne  man  gecnawan  .  o]?]?e  bro(5or  .  otStSe  mseg  .  ojjj^e 
sumne  })ara  J^e  him  ser  cuS  wses  geond  J?a  byrig ;  noes  him  ealles 
na  pe  sel  |>3es  pe  he  georne  hedde  .  ne  mihte  h6  )78er  nsenne  ges^on 
pe  he  gecndwan  cuJjc  .  ac  J?a  h.6  stod  Jjser  swd  hreowlice  ana  to- 


613.  mann.  619.  tire  nan  hine. 

614.  swy})e  ;  fymdagan.  620.  om.  ser, 

615.  O.  ins.  his  hef.  on;  om.  Saera;  621.  weacsende ;  J)an. 

casere;  notede.  623.  hreowsunge  suman  menn  ( /or 

616.  gegaderad  wundorlic;  menn;  eadmodnysse). 
^nes.  624.  niste. 

6T7.  J)aer  ])3er.  625.  sinderlice  beheold  selc  mann. 

618.  inaim ;   his  geferan  (/or  o])-  626.  om.   man;    cii^e    gecnawan; 

rum)  ;  mann.  om.  Jia  ;  h^  ;  })8ere. 

^  casere,  alt.  to  casera.         ^  notode,  alt.  to  notodon.         '  Leaf  117,  back.     -^ 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPEUS.  527 

said  to  the  other,  that  there  had  been  taken  within  the  city  an  un- 
known young  man  who  must  have  found  a  gold-hoard  of  their 
forefathers,  and  so  brought  thither  very  old  money  which  had  been 
struck  in  former  days,  and  made  use  of  in  the  times  of  the  elder  636 
Emperors ;    and   then   there   was   gathered   a   wonderfully   great 
crowd,  and  all  men  gazed  upon  him  alone,  where  he  stood  bound 
in  their  midst,  and  vociferating  on  all  sides  every  man   said  to 
the  others,  "  This  is  some  foreign  man  of  some  other  country  ;  we  640 
know  nothing  of  him,  and  none  of  us  ever  saw  him  before  with  our 
[^i^.his]  eyes."     And  he,  Malchus,  heard  all  these  words,  and  ever 
was  his  uneasiness  waxing,  and  he  ever  endeavoured  at  least  thus 
zealously  to  please  the  people  with  his  humility,  that  they  might  644 
pity  him  for  his  entire  humility;  because  he  knew  not,  neither 
could  find  any  argument,  nor  knew  he  to  whom  he  should  speak  a 
word.     Then  every  man  separately  beheld  him,  and  no  man  could 
recognise  him ;  and  as  he  stood  there  sad  and  silent  in  the  great  648 
astonishment  of  his  mind,  it  suddenly  occurred  to  his  thoughts 
that  he  had  very  great  confidence  that  his  relatives  still  lived  in 
the  city,  and  his  illustrious  kindred  which  he  had  there  within  it 
were  very  well  known  by  name  to  all  the  people;  and  it  seemed  to  652 
him  strange  that  he  was  certain  of  this,  that  he  thus  knew  every 
man  in  the  evening  and  every  man  knew  him,  and  afterwards  in 
the  morning  he  knew  no  one,  nor  no  man  him.     No  third  thing 
besides  he  supposed  concerning  himself,  save  that  it  was  as  if  he  656 
were  out  of  his  mind ;  and  he  then,  with  that  thought,  looked  on 
the  people  on  every  side,  earnestly  desiring  to  recognise  some  man, 
either  brother  or  kinsman,  or  some  one  of  those  who  formerly  were 
known  to  him  about  the  city.     He  was  not  at  all  the  better  for  660 
that  which  he  eagerly  observed ;  he  could  not  see  any  one  there 


627.  stdd  ;  swugiende.  634.  sylfan;      butan    swylce    he; 

628.  swy))e.  gewit  {for  gemynde). 

629.  })agyt;   om.  on  ..  byrig;    ly-  635.  he  J)a ;  ^an. 

fedan,       O.    his.    ae])ele    and  before           636.  om.  georne  ;  bro'Ser ;  mapg. 

Qiaere.  637.  O,    ins.    manna    after    ])ara. 

630.  swy])e  ;  eallan.  O.  in».  widan  after  byrig. 

631.  gewis  ;  on  eeran  eefen.  638.  om.  second  ]je  ;  nsenne  y<sv. 

632.  mann.  639.  ensewan. 

633.  mergen. 


528  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBIS. 

640  middes  eallum  ]3am  folce  .  hit  sefie  be  him  micele  switSor  selc  man 
sprsec  geond  pa,  byrig  .  oppcet  hit  wearS  cutS  on  |3sere  halgan 
cyrcan  set  j^am  bisceop-stole  .  and  man  cySde  pam  bisceope  marine  . 
and  }?am  purt-gerefan  pcet  sylfe  .  and  hi  budon  begen  pcet  man  nial- 

644  chum  switSe  wserlice  heolde  .  pcet  he  ne  setburste  .  4c  man  bine 
mid  micclan  ofste'  to  heom  ^  gelsedde  .  and  his  penegas  for©  mid 
him  pe  he  J^yder  brohte  mid  him  .  and  pa  men  pe  malchum  on 
cypincge  heoldon  hine  sona  J)anon  abrudon .  and  to  cyrcan  Iseddon  . 

648  and  h.6  J^agit  ndn  ofjer  ne  wende  buton  pcet  hi  woldon  hine  gelaedan 
to  decie  J^am  casere  ;  and  he  |?a  com  to  cyrcean  .  and  he  beseah  on 
selce  healfe  hwider  he  sceolde  .  and  pcet  folc  wafigende  him  s4h  eall 
onbutan  .  and   he   beseah   on    selce   healfe    geornlice   hwider   h6 

652  sceolde  .  and  pcet  folc  hine  hsefde  swa  yfele  swilce  he  sumes  j^inges 
scyldig  wsere  .  and  ealle  men  hine  fram  stowe  to  stowe  brudon  . 
and  to  wundre  tawedon  .  and  him  wses  swd  uneaSe  amang  ]7am  . 
and  him  eall  J?a  eagan  floterodon  ,  and  bitere  teares  aleton  .  and  se 

656  bisceop  and  se  portgerefa  namon  pa  his  peningas  .  and  hi  beforan 
Jjam  folce  sceawodon  and  heora  ]?earle  wundrodon  .  for|3i  hi  nsefre 
ser  ne  gesdwon  swilc  feoh  mid  heora  eagan  pe  w£es  on  ealdum 
dagum  geslagen  on  decius  caseres  timan  .  and  wses  his  anlicnys  on 

660  agrafen  .  and  his  nama  ]?3er  eall  onbutan  awriten  ;  Da  cwce'S  se 
portgerefa  to  malche;  Sege  us  nu  hwser  se  ealda  hord  sy  pe  )5u 
digellice  fundest  .  and  hine  eall  oj?  nu  bedyrndest  J^ylses  pe  pn  his 
set-sace  .  her  is  se  man  full  gehende  pe  sum  pcet  feoh  ^hsefS  on 

664  handa  pe  J?u  hider  brohtest  .  and  ]3U  hit  liini  of  {jlnum  handum 
sealdest  ;  Da  awcZwyrde  malchus  .  and  cwceS  .  to  heom  eallum  . 
eall  ic  secge  her  beforan  eow  eallum  folc  soS  .  and  gif  hit  eower 
willa  is  ge  magon  me  gelyfan  .  pcet  ic  nsefre  git  ne  gemette  gold- 

668  hord  swa  sw4  ge  me  onsecgaS ;  Ac  ic  wat  angevvis  soS  .  pcet  of 
minra  yldrena  gestreone  me  becom  Jjis  feoh  on  handa  .  and  of 
Jjyssere  ylcan  byrig  mangunge  ic  me  pcet  feoh  gersehte  .  and  hit 

640.  torniddan  eallan  folce ;  mycle  643.  om.  hi ;  budan  J)a  begen. 
swijjur ;  iiiann                                                      644.  8wyJ)e ;  0.  ins.  na  hwerii  be- 

64 1,  geond  ])a  byrig  gehyrde  (J'or       fwene;  ac. 

sprsec  . . .  byrig) ;  wses  en's.  645.  him  bam  {for  heom). 

*  him,  alt.  to  heom.  "  Leaf  118. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  529 

whom  he  was  able  to  recognise  ;  but  while  he  stood  there  thus 
mournfully  alone  amidst  all  the  people,  every  man  throughout  the 
city  spake  it  about  him  much  more,  until  it  became  known  in  the  664 
holy  church,  at  the  bishop's  throne ;  and  they  told  the  bishop 
Marinus  and  the  town -reeve  the  same  news.     And  they  both  bade 
men  keep  Malchus  very  warily,  that  he  might  not  escape  ;  and  they 
brought  him  to  them  with  great  haste,  and  his  pennies  also  with  668 
him  which  he  had  brought  with  him  thither;  and  the  men  who 
had  seized  Malchus  in  the  market  took  him  away  thence  imme- 
diately, and  led  him  to  the  church  ;  and  he  still  expected  nothing 
else  but  that  they  would  lead  him  to  Decius  the  emperor.     He  672 
then  came  to  the  church,  and  looked  about  on  every  side  where- 
ever  he  could,  and  the  gazing  people  pressed  upon  him  all  about, 
and  he  earnestly  looked  on  every  side  wherever  he  could,  and  the 
people  regarded  him  as  evilly  as  if  he  were  guilty  of  something,  6j6 
and  all  men  dragged  him  from  place  to  place  and  wonderfully  in- 
sulted him ;  and  he  was  very  uneasy  among  them,  and  his  eyes 
all  overflowed  and  let  fall  bitter  tears.     Then  the  bishop  and  the 
town-reeve   took   his   pennies   and   scrutinised   them    before   the  680 
people,  and  wondered  exceedingly  at  them,  because  they  had  never 
before  seen  with  their  eyes  such  coin,  which  was  struck  in  old 
days  in  Decius  the  emperor's  time,  and  his  likeness  was  engraven 
thereon  and   his  name  written  there  all  round.     Then  said  the  684 
town-reeve  to  Malchus,  "  Tell  us  now  where  the  old  treasure  is 
which  thou  hast  secretly  found,  and  concealed  it  all  until  nowl 
Lest  thou  shouldst  deny  it,  here  is  the  man  full  close  at  hand, 
who  has  some  of  the  money  in  his  hands  which  thou  broughtest  688 
hither,  and   thou   gavest   it   to   him   out   of  thy  hands."     Then 
answered  Malchus  and  said  to  them  all,  "I  say  all  truth  here 
before  all  you  people,  and  if  it  is  your  will  ye  may  believe  me, 
that  I  never  yet  found  a  gold-hoard  such  as  ye  impute  to  me.  69a 
But  I  know  certainly  of  a  truth,  that  from  the  possessions  of  my 
parents  this  money  came  into  my  hands,  and  in  the  traffic  of  this 

646.  J)ider;  om.  mid  him;  and  hy       dan;   0.    (fol.    22,    back)    ends   with 
))a  menn.  and  to. 

647.  cypinge  heoldan  ;  ])ananabru- 

34 


530  XXIII,     DE    SEPTEM   DORMTENTIBUS. 

elles  naliwser  ne  funde  .  Ac  ic  j^urh  nan  ]?incg  ongytan  ne  meeg  hu 

672  me  sy  Jjus  gelumpen  pcet  ic  hit  J7us  macige;  Da  cwcetS  se  port- 
gerefa  him  to ;  Sege  me  nu  h6r  openlice  on  hwilcere  byrig  J)u 
geboren  wsere  .  olppe  to  hwilcere  byrig  |?e  to  gebyrige ;  Da  cwcelS 
he  him  to  andwyrde ;  Leof  swa  ic  Isete  on  minum  gej?ance  pcet  me 

676  to  nanre  byrig  swa  rihte  ne  gebyrige  .  swd  to  J)issere  byrig  pees  tSe 
me  ]?inc(5 ;  Leof  Jjis  is  ephesa  byrig  J5e  ic  on  geboren  wses  .  and 
af6ded;  Da  cwoetS  .  eft  se  port-gerefa  to  malche;  Gif  )?u  h^r  on 
porte  geboren  wsere  .  and  afeded  .  hwser  synt  ponne  Jjine  magas  ?Se 

680  pe  afeddon  .  and  Jje  gecnawan  cunnon  ;  Laetan  hi  gelangigan  hider 
to  Jiam  bisceope  .  and  Isetan  hi  her  beforan  us  fort5  gdn  .  Ipcet  hi  for 
Ipe  sprecon  .  and  gif  hi  on  senige  wisan  magon  J?e  betellan ;  And  he 
malchus  andwyrde  .  and  his  yldrena  naman  nemde  .  hwset  j^aes 

684  anes  nama  wses  .  and  hwset  pses  ojjres  nsemnincg  wses  ;  Da  ne  ge- 
cneow  se  port-gerefa  Jjara  namena  nan  tJing  J>e  he  pser  namode  .  ac 
he  sona  gelignode  hine  .  and  cwoe'S  him  to  edwite ;  Nu  ]3urh  ]?inre 
leasan  tale  ic  her  ongyten  hsebbe  pcBt  pu  eart  An  forswi'Se  leas 

(88  Dian  .  and  wel  canst  gif  tSu  nede  scealt  lease  tale  fiudan ;  He  pA 
malchus  nyste  hwset  he  cwetSan  sceolde  .  ac  stod  Jjser  and  hnipode  . 
and  wses  swa  lange  stille  pcet  sume  menn  cwsedon  pe  j^ser  stodon  ; 
Nis  his  talu  nan  |jincg  so]?  .  ne  drift?  h6  butan  folc-woh  .  and  hine 

692  to  o]5rum  men  hiwatS  .  and  his  gebyrda  mid  Jjam  bediglat? .  poet  he 
huru  on  sume  wisan  heonan  mseg  setberstan  .  and  se  port-gerefa 
mid  jjysum  wordum  nam  to  malche  fulne  graman  .  and  him '  mid 
eallum  hete  cidde  .  and  hine  |3us  axode  .  J?u  stnnta  .  and  se  msesta 

696  dwses  ]3e  sefre  on  J^issere  byrig  msest  wses  .  on  hwilce  wisan  sceole 
we  pe  gelyfan  .  and  Jjinum  ungewissum  wordum  .  pcet  we  gecnawe 
beon  magon  .  pcet  ]3u  t5ys  feoh  begeate  of  Jsinre  yldrena  gestreone ; 
her  mseg  geseon  selc  man  pe  tel-crseftas  aenig  gescead  can  ,  and  J^isra 

700  peninga  ofergewrit  her  eallum  mannum  openlice  pcet  geswutelaS  . 
pcet  hit  mare  is  for  An  ponne  J^reo  hund  geara  .  and  tw4  and  hund- 
seofontlg  wintra  sy'SSan  tSyllic  feoh  wses  farende  on  eortSan  .  and 
eulle  men  heom^  mid  tiledon .  and  pcet  wses  sona  on  ]?ain  fyrmestan 

704  dagan  pe  decius  ge  casere  to  rixianne  begann  .  and  swilces  feos  uu 

'  Leaf  118,  back.  '  him,  alt,  to  heom. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  531 

same  city  I  obtained  the  money,  and  have  found  it  nowhere  else  ; 
but  I  cannot  at  all  understand  how  it  has  thus  happened  to  me  696 
that  I  act  thus."     Then  said  the  town-reeve  to  him,  "  Tell  me 
now  here  openly  in  what  city  thou  wast  bom,  or  to  what  city  thou 
dost  belong  1 "     Then  said  he  to  him  in  answer,  "  Master,  as  I 
suppose  in  my  mind,  I  belong  to  no  city  so  rightly  as  to  this  700 
city,  as  it  appears  to  me.     Master,  this  is  the  city  Ephesus  in 
which  I  was  born  and  nurtured."     Then  said  again  the  town- 
reeve  to  Malchus,  "  If  thou  wert  born  and  nurtured  here  in  the 
town,  where  are  then  thy  parents  who  brought  thee  up,  and  can  704 
recognise  thee  ?     Let  them  be  summoned  hither  to  the  bishop,  and 
let  them  come  forth  here  before  us,  that  they  may  speak  for  thee, 
if  they  can  answer  for  thee   in  any  wise."     And   he,  Malchus, 
answered,  and   named  the  names  of  his  parents,  what  was  the  708 
name  of  this  one,  and  what  was  the  naming  of  the  other.     Then 
the  town-reeve  knew  nothing  of  the  names  which  he  there  named, 
but  quickly  gave  him  the  lie,  and  said  to  him  tauntingly,  "  Now 
through  thy  false  tale  I  have  here   perceived  that  thou  art  an  7^^ 
exceedingly  false  man,  and  well  canst,  if  thou  shalt  have  need, 
find   a  false   tale."      He  then,  Malchus,  knew  not  what  to   say, 
but  stood  there  and  bent  down  his  head,  and  was  so  long  still 
that  some  men  said  who  stood  there,  "His  tale  is  in  no  respect  716 
true,   neither    practiseth    he    other    than    a   public   deceit,   but 
disguiseth  himself  as   another  man,  and  thereby  concealeth  his 
condition,  that  he  may  at  any  rate  escape  hence  in  some  wise." 
And  the   town-reeve,  with  these  words,   conceived   great  wrath  720 
against  Malchus,  and  with  much  anger   chided   him,  and   thus 
asked  him,  "  Thou  fool,  and  the  greatest  impostor  who  ever  was 
chief  in  this  city,  in  what  wise  can  we  believe  thee  and  thy  un- 
certain words,  so  that  we  may  be  certified  that  thou  hast  obtained  7^4 
this  money  from  the  possessions  of  thy  parents  ?     Here  may  every 
man  see,  who  has  any  skill  in  the  art  of  numbers,  and  the  super- 
scription of  these  pennies  here  showeth  it  openly  to  all  men,  that 
it  is  even  more  than  three  hundred  and  two  and  seventy  years  728 
since  the  like  money  was  current  on  the  earth,  and  all  men  traded 
with  it ;  and  that  was  soon  after  the  first  days  when  Decius  the 

34-2 


582  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DOEMIENTIBUS. 

nan  dsel  nahwser  nis  amang  psim  feo  )?e  we  on  Jjysum  dagum 
notiatS  .  and  ure  neode  mide  bicgatS  .  and  be  )?am  pe  pu  ser  teal- 
dest  pa  tSu  J^ine  magas  nemdest ;  hi  wseron  swA  ser  geo  on  ealdum 

708  dagum  .  swa  tSaet  nis  nan  swa  eald  man  pe  hi  nu  on  ]?isne  timan 
mage  gej^encan  .  otS'Se  ser  for  fela  gearan  mihte  gemunan  swa  ge- 
fyrn  swa  hi  ]?ine  yldran  waeron  .  nu  stentst  J?u  h^r  dn  geong  man  . 
and  wylt  jsysre  byrig  ealde  witan  mid  pinan  lote  bepsecan  ;  Ac  man 

712  sceall  pe  o]?er  gecy]?an  pcet  })u  us  na  lencg  ne  Jjearft  mid  J?inre 
leasunge  fercian  .  Ic  gedo  pcet  man  sceall  J^e  wel  fseste  gewri'San  . 
segtSer  ge  handa'  ge  fet  .  and  pe  eall-swa  seo  dom-boc  be  swilcum 
mannum  tsec'S  .  oft  and  gelome  swingan  .  and  to  ealre  sorge  tucigan  . 

716  poune  scealt  )7u  J)ines  unj^ances  f)one  hord  ameldian  pe  |3u  sylf- 
willes  ser  noldest  cycSan;  Da  malchus  ]?as  word  gehyrde  pe  se  port- 
gerefa  him  sw^  hetelice  wses  tospreecende  .  he  ofdrsed  sloh  adun 
Jjser-rihte  .  and  hine  sylfne  astrsehte  aetforan  eallum  }3am  folce  . 

720  and  J)a  cwcetS  .  to  heom  eallum  mid  wependre  stefne ;  La  leof  ic 
bidde  eow  pcet  selmyssan  pcet  ic  mote  anes  Jjinges  axian  .  and  ic 
eow  sona  eall  wille  cytSan  hwset  ic  J?ence  on  minum  gej)ance  .  j^aes 
ic  wolde  leof  axian  gif  ge  me  secgan  woldon  .  hwser  decius  se 

724  casere  sy  .  sefie  h6r  '^wses  on  fiissere  byrig;  Da  and-wyrde  se  bis- 
ceop  him  marinus  .  and  cwcetS  to  malche ;  Min  leofe  cild  .  nis  nu 
todseg  se  casere  on  eorj^an  lifigende  pe  decius  sy  genemned  .  se 
casere  pe  tSu  embe  axast  .  he  wses  gefyrn  worulde  .  and  swiSe  fela 

728  geara  synd  nu  agdne  sytStSan  he  ge-wAt  of  f)ysan  life ;  Da  cwce'S  . 
malchus  to  |3am  biscope  .  to  andwyrde ;  pcet  is  pcet  dn  leof  hlaford 
tSses  ic  eallan  daeg  me  onsitte  .  and  pcet  is  s^  An  6ge  pe  me  swd 
swi(5e  .  drectS  on  minum  mode  .  and  ndn  man  nele  minon  wordon 

732  gelyfan  .  ac  ic  bidde  eow  nu  eadmodlice  pcet  ge  after  me  ane  lytle 
hwile  willan  gd,n  .  ic  heebbe  ful  gehende  ane  feawa  geferena  .  hi 
synd  h6r  geond  on  pava.  scrsefe  aet  celian  dune  .  ealles  pjses  gescead 
ge  magon  buton  tweon  gelyfan ;  Ic  jjeah-hwaetSere  pcet  wdt  to  soj^an 

736  Jjingon  pcet  w6  frawi  decie  Jjam  casere  ealle  setgaedere  flugon  .  and 

'  hande,  alt.  to  handa.  *  Leaf  1 19. 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPEES.  533 

emperor  began  to  reign ;  and  now  there  is  no  piece  of  such  money 
anywhere  among  the  money  which  we  in  these  days  make  use  732 
of,  and   buy  our  necessaries  with.     And   as   to  those  of  whom 
thou  erewhile  didst  tell,  and  name  as  thy  kinsmen,  they  lived  bo 
long  ago  in  olden  times  that  there  is  no  man  so  old  that  he  can 
now  at  this  time  recollect   them,  or  for  many  years  previously  73? 
could  remember  so  long  ago  as  they,  thy  parents,  lived.     Now 
standest  thou  here,  a  young  man,  and  desirest  to  delude  with  thy 
deceit  the  old  counsellors  of  this  city.     But  thou  shalt  be  taught 
otherwise,  that  thou  needest  no  longer  uphold  us  with  thy  lies.  740 
I  will  give  orders  that  they  shall  bind  thee  very  fast,  both  hands 
and  feet,  and   scourge  thee  often   and  repeatedly,  even   as   the 
statute-book  teacheth  concerning  such  men,  and  afflict  thee  with 
every  sorrow ;  then  shalt  thou,  in  spite  of  thyself,  reveal  the  trea-  744 
sure  which  thou  wouldest  not  before  make  known  of  thine  own 
will." 

"When  Malchus  heard  these  words  which  the  town-reeve  was 
speaking   to  him   so   angrily,  he,  affrighted,  cast   himself  down  748 
straightway  and  prostrated  himself  before  all  the  people,  and  then 
said  to  them  all,  with  weeping  voice,  "  Lo,  Masters !  I  pray  you 
this  charity  that  I  may  ask  one  thing,  and  I  will  at  once  make 
known  to  you  all  that  I  think  in  my  thought.     This,  master,  I  752 
would  ask,  if  ye  would  tell  me,  where  is  Decius  the  emperor,  he 
who  was  here  in  this  city?"      Then  answered  him  the  bishop 
Marinus,  and  said  to  Malchus ;  "  My  dear  child,  there  is  not  to- 
day the  emperor  living  on  earth  who  is  named  Decius ;  the  em-  756 
peror  whom  thou  askest  about,  he  lived  in  the  world  long  ago, 
and  very  many  years  are  now  past  since  he  departed  from  this 
life."     Then  said  Malchus  to  the  bishop  in  answer,  "  That  is  the 
one  thing,  dear  lord,  which  oppresses  me  all  day,  and  that  is  the  760 
one  fear  which  so  greatly  afflicts  me  in  my  mind,  and  no  man  will 
believe  my  words ;  but  I  pray  you  now  humbly  that  ye  will  follow 
after  me  a  little  while.     I  have  very  near  at  hand  a  few  com- 
panions ;  they  are  here,  yonder  in  the  cave  on  the  Celian  Hill  ;  ye  764 
may  believe  without  doubt  the  meaning  of  all  this.     Nevertheless, 
I  know  it  to  be  a  true  thing,  that  we  all  fled  together  from  Decius 


534  XXIII,     DE   SEPTEM   DOEMIENTIBUS. 

w6  his  ehtnysse  lange  Jjolodon  .  and  nu  to-niht  ic  geseah  mid 
niinum  eagum  past  se  ylca  decius  into  ephesa  byrig  ferde  .  and  ic 
and  mine  geferan  on  ephesa  byrig  hamfaeste  waeron  ,  dc  for  his 

740  micclan  ehtnysse  )7anon  ealle  we  flugon  geond  to  J^sere  dune  .  and 
on  ]3am  scrsefe  Idgon  ealle  J^as  niht  fram  decie  behydde  .  dc  me 
todaeg  swa  wundorlice  is  gelumpen  .  ])(et  ic  |?urh  nan  j^iucg  ne  mseg 
gecnawan  hwsetSer  J^ys  sy  ejihesa  byrig  .  pe  elles  senig  ojjer ;  Da 

744  nialchus  eall  Jjus  ge-sprecan  haefde  .  pa  fjohte  se  bisceop  marinus 
wundiigende  on  his  mode  .  and  cwcetS  to  eallum  ]?am  folce ;  Dis  is 
to  so]3an  sum  wundorlic  gesihtJ  pe  god  selmihtig  jjysan  geongan 
menu  onwreogan  hseftS  .  dc  uton  nu  ealle  switSe  gearwe  arfsan  .  and 

748  mid  him  |?yder  geond  gdn  .  and  se  bisceop  marinus  sona  aras  .  and 
mid  him  se  port-gerefa  .  and  }3a  yldostan  port-men  .  and  forS  mid 
micel  menio  ealre  J^aere  burh-ware  .  and  j^yder  ealle  mid  micelre 
arwurtSnysse  eodon  .  and  to  })am  scrsefe  genealaehton  .  and  malchus 

752  eode  ]5a  on  fore-weardan  into  his  ]7am  halgan  geferan  .  and  se  bisceop 
marinus  sefter  him  inn  eode  .  and  sytSSan  sefter  him  sume^  J)a 
yldestan  arwurSe  men  into  Jjam  scrsefe  eodon  .  and  mid  ]5y  pe  hi 
in  becomen  Jja  gemetton  hi  on  pa  swiSran  hand  ane  teage  .  seo 

756  wees  geiosseglod  mid  twam  sylfrenan  insseglan  .  pe  ]3a  twsegen 
getreowfaeste  menn  tSser-inne  ledon  .  j>a  decius  se  casere  het  pcet 
Bcraef  forwyrcan  swa  we  £er  beforan  rehton  .  pcet  ]?a  insaegla  waeron 
eft  to  swutelunge  hwset  man  Jjger-inne  funde  ponne  se  tima  ge- 

760  wurSe  eall-swa  god  wolde  .  pcet  pa  gewurtSan  sceolde  .  and  man 
baer  pa  ut  Jja  teage  and  man  ealle  )5a  burh-ware  h6t  gelangian  .  and 
hi  eallan  folce  eowde  .  and  hi  ndn  man  ne  un-insseglode  ser  hi  ealle 
]7yder  comon ;  SySSan  hi  ealle  J^aer  setforan  J?am  bisceope  gega- 

764  derode  wsei'on  .  Jja  feng  se  port-gerefa  to  {jsere  tege  .  and  he  on 
gewitnysse  ealles  fclces  hi  tin-insseglode  .  and  hi  sona  unhlidode  . 
and  f)8er-inne  funde  ane  leadene  tabulan  eall  awritene  .  and  ]?a  hi 
openlice  raedde ;  pa  com  he  to  j^sere  stsef-raewe  ]7aer  he  pcet  word 

768  funde  awriten  .  and  he  hit  J^a  raedde  eall-swa  .  pcet  hi  fram  decie 
J3am  casere  flugon  .  and  his  ehtnysse  ]3oledon  ;  Maximianus  wses 
]?8ere^   burh-gerefan   sunu   .    malchus   .  martinianus  .   dionisius  . 
'  Leaf  1 19,  back.  ^  pxr,  alt.  to  ])8ere  {icrongly) ;  read  J>ses  ? 


XXIII.     THE    SEVEN    SLEEPERS.  535 

the  emperor,  and  we  suffered  loug  his  persecution,  and  now  last 
uight  I  saw   with   mine   eyes   that  the  same  Decius  went  into  768 
Ephesus,  and  I  and  my  companions  were  resident  in  the  city  of 
Ephesus  :  but  on  account  of  his  great  persecution  we  all  fled 
thence  to  the  hill  yonder,  and  all  lay  in  the  cave  this   night 
hidden  from  Decius.     But  to-day  it  has  befallen  me  so  wonder-  77' 
fully  that  I  cannot  by  any  means  recognise  whether  this  be  the 
city  of  the  Ephesians  or  else  any  other."     When  Malchus  had 
spoken  all  thus,  then  the  bishop  Marinus  thought,  wondering  in 
his  mind,  and  said  to  all  the  people,  "  This  is  of  a  surety  a  won-  77^ 
derfiil  vision  which  God  Almighty  hath  revealed  to  this  young 
man  ;  but  let  us  now  all  very  quickly  arise,  and  go  with  him 
thither  yonder."     And  the  bishop  Marinus  straightway  arose,  and 
with   him  the  town-reeve  and  the  chief  townsmen,  and  [went]  780 
forth  with  a  great  multitude  of  all  the  population ;  and  all  went 
tliither  with    great   solemnity,   and  approached  the  cave.     And 
then  Malchus  went  on  before  to   his  holy  companions,  and  the 
bishop  Marinus  went  in  after  him,  and  next  after  him  some  of  the  7^4 
chiefest  honourable  men  went  into  the  cave.     And  when   they 
entered  in,  they  found  on  the  ri^ht  hand  a  casket,  which  was 
sealed  with  two  silver  seals,  and  which  the  two  faithful  men  had 
laid  therein  when  Decius  the  emperor  bade  the  cave  to  be  built  7^8 
up,  as  we  related  earlier  before  this  ;    that  the  seals  might  be 
afterward  as  evidence  of  what  they  should  find  therein,  when  the 
time  should  come  even  as  God  willed  that  it  was  to  come.     And 
they  then  bare  out  the  casket,  and  bade  summon  all  the  citizens,  792 
and  showed  it  to  all  the   people,  and  no  man  unsealed  it  be- 
fore they  were  all  come  thither.     After  they  were  all  gathered 
there  before  the  bishop,  then  the  town-reeve  took  hold  of  the 
casket,  and  unsealed   it   in  the   witness  of  all  the    people,  and  796 
quickly    uncovered    it,    and    found    therein    a    leaden    tablet    all 
written  upon  ;  and  then  he  openly  read  it.     Then  he  came  to  the 
row  of  letters  where  he  found  the  word  written,  and  he  also  read 
it,   that   they  fled    from    Decius    the    emperor   and    suffered    his  800 
persecution  :  "  Maximianus,  who  was  the  son  of  the  city-reeve, 
Malchus,    Martinianus,    Dionysius,    Johannes,    Seraphion,    Con- 


536  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

iohannes  .  seraphion  .  constantinus ;  Dys  synt  }5a  halgan  ]?e  sefter 

772  decies  jjses  caseres  bebode  on  {jyson  scrsefe  wseron  mid  weorc-stane 
beworhte  .  and  wytt  theodorus  .  and  rufinus  .  heora  martyrrace 
awriton  .  and  hi  her-inn6  mid  J?yson  halgan  uppon  anum  stdne 
ledon  .  and  J)a  pa,  hi  pcet  gewrit  rseddon  .  hi  ealle  wundrigende 

776  wseron  .  and  god  selmihtigne  4non  mode  wuldredon  .  and  mser- 
Bodon  .  for  J^am  micclum  wundrum  Jse  he  jsaer  geswutolode  .  and 
ge-u]3e  eallum  mannum  ;  and  hi  ealle  anre  stefne  godes  Jja  halgan 
martyras  heredon  Jjser  hi  on  {jam  scrsefe  ealle  on  gersewe  sseton  . 

780  and  eall  heora  neb-wlite  wseron  swilce  rose  .  and  lilie  ^ ;  and  se 
bisceop  and  eall  seo  msenio  feoUan  adtine  on  ]ja  eorcSan  .  and  hi  to 
pam  halgan  hi  ge-bsedon  .  and  eall  ])cet  folc  god  selmihtigne  blet- 
sodon  .  ^and  wurtSodon  for  his  micelau  mild-heortnysse  .  pcet  he 

784  swilce  wundra  heom  geopenian  wolde  ;  and  hi  j^a  halgan  martyras 
on  jjam  scrsefe  sseton  .  and  J?am  bisceope  marine  .  and  Jsam 
yldestan  mannum  be  endebyrdnysse  rehton  hu  hi  hit  macedon 
on  decius  caseres  timan  .  and  hu  manega  earfotJnyssa  [hi  under 

788  him  gebidon  ,  and  fela  oSre  )jing  hi]  ^  heom*  JJser  geopenode  \>e 
on  his  dagum  gewurdon  .  and  hu  olpre  martyras  under  his 
ehtnysse  jirowedon  .  eall  swd  we  se'r  on  fore-weardan  ]7ysre 
race  rehton  ;  And  se  bisceop  marinus  .  sona  sefter  Jjam  godan 

792  casere  sende  theodosie  serend-gewrit  Jje  on  |?yson  andgite  wses  ge- 
diht ;  Ic  grete  Jje  leof  eadmodlice  .  and  ic  bidde  Jjinue  j^rymfullan 
cyne-scype  .  \)cet  J>u  to  us  cume  swd  ]?u  raJ?ost  msege  pcet  |ju  j?a 
micclan  msertSa  mage  geseon  pe  god  selmihtig  eallum  mancynne 

796  geujje  .  and  he°  hi  on  ]?ines  anwealdes  timan  hsefS  geswutelod; 
Vs  is  cumen  leof  leoht  ofer  eortSan  .  and  we  habbatS  mid  us  |jone 
leoman  rihtes  geleafan  .  and  us  seo  towearde  serist  ealra  manna  is 

773.  O.  (fol.  18)  begins  icith  hiora  778.  eallan  mancynne. 
martyrrace,  779.  hy;  O.  om.  ealle  on  geraewe; 

774.  0.  awritan;   hy  ;    })ysan ;  up-       saetan. 

pan  anan.  780.  hiora ;  waes  swylce  rosan  and 

775.  geledan;    om.  ])a ;   hy;    raed-       lilian, 

dan;  hy;  wuldriende,  781.  msenigu ;  adun;  om,  J)a. 

776.  waeran  ;  anan.  782.  pan;  gebsedan. 

777.  msersedan;  ])an  micclan  wun-  783.  bletsaden;  wurSaden. 
dran.  784.  swylce ;  hiom, 

^  hleowonfolloios,  but  is  struck  out.  ^  Leaf  120. 

^  h^  instead  of  words  in  brackets.  *  him,  alt.  to  heom. 

'  hi,  alt.  to  he. 


XXIII.    THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  537 

stantine :  these  are  the  Saints  who,  according  to  the  command  of 
Decius  the  emperor,  were  enclosed  with  wrought  stones  in  this  804 
cave ;  and  we  two,  Theodoras  and  Rufinus,  wrote  their  martyr- 
ology  and  laid  it  herein,  with  these  Saints,  upon  a  stone."     And 
when  they  had  read  that  writing,  they  were  all  wondering,  and 
with  one  mind  praised  and  magnified  God  Almighty  for  the  great  808 
wonders  which  He  had  manifested  there,  and  granted  to  all  men ; 
and  they  all  with  one  voice  praised  the  holy  martyrs  of  God  where 
they  sat  all  in  a  row  within  the  cave  ;  and  all  their  countenances 
were  like  roses  and  lilies.     And  the  bishop  and  all  the  multitude  812 
fell  down  upon  the  earth,  and  prayed  to  the   Saints ;    and   all 
the  people  blessed  and  worshipped  Almighty  God  for  His  great 
mercy,  in  that  He  deigned  to  reveal  to  them  such  wonders.     And 
they,  the  holy  martyrs,  sat  in  the  cave,  and  related  in  order  to  the  816 
bishop  Marinus  and  to  the  chiefest  men  how  they  had  acted  in  the 
time  of  Decius  the  emperor,  and  how  many  distresses  they  suffered 
under  him,  and  many  other  things  they  there  revealed  to  them 
which  had  happened  in  his  days,  and  how  other  martyrs  suffered  830 
under  his  persecutions,  all  as  we  related  before  in  the  former  part 
of  this  story. 

And  the  bishop  Marinus  sent  immediately  afterwards  a  letter  to 
the  good  emperor  Theodosius,  which  was  indited  to  this  effect :  824 
"  Humbly  I  greet  thee,  my  lord,  and  I  pray  thy  glorious  kingship 
that  thou  come  to  us  as  quickly  as  thou  canst,  that  thou  mayest 
see  the  great  miracles  which  God  Almighty  hath  granted  to  all 
mankind,  and  He  hath  manifested  them  in  the  time  of  thy  reign.  828 
My  lord,  light  is  come  to  us  upon  the  earth,  and  we  have  with 
us  the  brightness  of  the  true  faith ;  and  the  future  resurrection 

785.  I)an;  saetan ;  ])an  (twice).  godan  casere  (for  J)am  gddan  casere 

786.  mannan ;   0,  inserts  call  bef.  sende) ;  fysan  andgyte. 
be;  rehtan;  macedan.  793.  om.  ic. 

787.  decies ;    after  earfoSnyssa  0,  794.  J)u  leof  swa  J)u  raJ)ost  maege  to 
ins.  hy  under  him  gebidan  .  and  fela  us  cuman  wille. 

oiSre  jing,  follotced  by  hi  hiom  ])aer.  795.  eallan. 

788.  ge-openedan.  796.  om,  he. 
791,  792.  rehtan;  l)an  sendan  j^an 


538  XXIII.     DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS, 

nu  gecy?5ed  Jjurli  opene  tacna  .  and  godea  halige  martyras  syndon 

800  arisene  .  and  embe  \)cet  spsece  habbatS  to  man-cynne ;  )?a  se  goda^ 
casere  theodosius  \>cet  gewrit  gersed  haefde  .  he  ards  pa,  of  Jjsere 
flora  .  and  of  f»am  wacan  ssecce  pe  he  lange  on-uppan  dreorig  waes 
sittende  .  and  he  Jiancode  gode  aelmihtigum  .  and  ofer  eall  cly- 

804  pode ;  we  J?anciatS  pe  msera  scyppend  .  jsu  tJe  on  heofonum  and 
on  eor]?an  eart  cynincg  .  and  wealdend ;  we  andettaS  pe  leofa 
hselend  .  J)u  pe  senlic  eart  {jses  lyfigendan  godes  beam  .  we  wul- 
driatS  pe  inweardre  heortan  .  pcet  ]3U  us  woldest  on  eorSan  Jjinre 

808  [rihtwisnysse  sunnan  on-eowan  .  and  us  on  .  .  .  wrsec-sitSe  onlihtan 
Jsinre  micelan]  ^  mildheortnysse  leoman'  .  ne  ?Su  leof  ne  mihtest 
getemian  pcet  mire  {sic)  andetnysse  leoht-faet  sceolde  acwyncan  .  pe 
began  of  mire  {sic)  yldrena  leoht-fsete  scinan  ;  Constantinus  ]?8es 

812  setSelan  .  and  ]38es  we  gelyfatS  leof  Jjines  ge-corenan  .  and  he  sona  mid 
micclan  ofste  fram  constantinopolim  Jjsere  byrig  swit5e  mid  his 
crsetum*  to  ephese  ferde  .  and  eall  seo  burh-waru  sah  tit  setgsedere 
ongean  Jjses  caseres  tocyrne  ,  and  se  bisceop  switSe  eadmodlice  eode 

816  ongean  hine  .  and  mid  }3am  yldestan  mannum  bine  to  J?am  scrsefe 
laeddon  ;  And  hi  stigon  Jsa  mid  tSam  casere  up  to  cselian  dune  .  and 
genealsehton  pann  halgan  pe  on  Jjam  scraefe  vvseron  .  and  hi  J?a  halgan 
martyras  eodon  pa  ongean  })one  casere  .  and  sona  swa  hi  him  on 

820  besawon  eall  heora  neb-wlite  ongann  to  scinenne  ewilce  seo  J)urh- 
beorhte  sunne  .  and  he  pa  eode  inn  se  casere  .  and  hine  sylfne 
set-foran  J)am  halgan  pddv  adune  astraehte  .  and  hi  arserdan  hine  of 
JjBere  flora  .  and  he  pa  beclypte  hi  ealle  .  and  for  Jjsere  micelan 

824  blysse  synderlice  he  weop  ofer  selcne  .  and  his  heorte  wees  fsegui- 
gende  .  and  mid  |5am  msestan  gefean  he  cwoecS  .  to  }5am  halgan ; 
Eall  me  J^inctS  pcet  ic  eow  geseo  h^r  sw4  beforan  me  swilce  ic  ful  ge- 
hende  waere  Jjam  hselende  urum  drihtne  .  and  hine  mid  minan 

828  eagan  eahsynes  beheolde  pa  he  lazarum  of  byrgenne  awehte  .  and 
nu  me  p'mc<S  eac  swilce  ic  stande  gesewenlice  set  his  wuldorfullan 

798,  eallra;  om.  is.  807,  808.  0,  has  eorSan  })ire  riht- 

802.  J)an.  wisnysse   sunnan  on-eowan  .  and   us 

803.  jjancede  ;  cliopede.  on  [illegible]  wraec-siSe  onlyhtan  ]?yre 

804.  of  (for  on) ;  heofonan.  micelan   mildheortnysse  leoman  .  ac 

805.  om,  on ;  cyningc.  '5u  leof;  &c. 

806.  om.  ))U ;  J)e  j>sst  senile ;  lyfiendan. 

'  gode,  alt.  to  goda.  ^  supplied fromO.  '  seteowan  inserted  here.  *  Leaf  120,  back. 


XXIII.    THE  SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  639 

of  all  men  is  now  made  known  to  us  through  open  signs,  and 
God's  holy  martyrs  are  arisen,  and  have  speech  with  mankind  832 
concerning   it."     When  the  good  emperor  Theodosius  had  read 
the  letter,  he  arose  from  the  floor  and  from  the  mean  sacking 
upon  which  he  had  long  been  sitting  sadly,  and  he  thanked  God 
Almighty  and  cried  aloud,  "  We  thank  Thee,  great  Creator,  Thou  836 
Who  art  King  and  Euler  in  heaven  and  earth ;  we  confess  Thee, 
dear  Saviour,  Thou  Who  only  art  the  Son  of  the  living  God ;  we 
glorify  Thee  with  inward  heart  that  Thou  hast  willed  to  show  us 
on  earth  the  sun  of  Thy  righteousness,  and  to  enlighten  us  in  our  840 
exile  with  the  light  of  Thy  great  mercy.     Thou  wouldest  not.  Lord, 
permit  that   the  lantern  of  my  confession  should    be  quenched, 
which  began  to  shine  from  the  lantern  of  my  fathers;  [viz.]   of 
Constantinus,  the  noble  one,  and  Thy  chosen  one,  Lord,  [as]  we  g. . 
believe."     And  he  immediately  went  swiftly  with  great  haste  in 
his  chariot  from  the  city  Constantinople  to  Ephesus,  and  all  the 
citizens  went  down  together  towards  the  emperor's  coming,  and 
the  bishop  very  humbly  went  to  meet  him,  and,  with  the  chief  est  848 
men,  led  him  to  the  cave.     And  then  they  ascended  the  Celian 
Hill  with  the  emperor,  and  approached  the  Saints  who  were  in  the 
cave  :  and  they,  the  holy  martyrs,  went  then  to  meet  the  emperor  ; 
and  as  soon  as  they  looked  upon  him,  ail  their  countenances  began  852 
to  shine  like  the  thoroughly  bright  sun ;  and  he,  the  emperor, 
then  went  in,   and  there  prostrated  himself  before   the   Saints. 
And  they  raised  him  from  the  floor,  and  he  then  embraced  them 
all,  and  for  the  great  bliss  he  wept  over  each  one  severally,  and  his  856 
heart  was  rejoiced,  and  with  the  greatest  gladness  he  said  to  the 
Saints,  "  It  quite  seemeth  to  me,  since  I  see  you  here  thus  before 
me,  as  if  I  were  very  nigh  at  hand  to  the  Saviour  Our  Lurd,  and 
beheld  Him  with  my  eyesight  when  He  awaked  Lazarus  from  the  g6o 
tomb :  and  now  it  seemeth  to  me  just  as  if  I  stand  visibly  before 

8 1 1,  minra;  Constantines.  816.  pan  yldstan   mannann   {sic); 

813.  constaiitinopoli.  ])an. 

814.  efste  (for  ferde).  817.  Ltdden  ;  hystigan;  J)an  ;  upp. 

815.  swySe.  818.  genealaehtan  ])an;    J)an;    wae- 

ran.     Here  0.  eruh. 


540  XXIII,    DE    SEPTEM    DORMIENTIBUS. 

msegen-Jjrymme  foran  .  and  his  agene  stefne  gehyre  swd.  sw4  hit 
toweard-lic  is  to  gehyranne  .  ]?onne  on  his  micclan  to-cyme  ealle 

832  menn  gemsenelice  J?urh-wuniaS.  Da  cwsedon  hi ;  Nu  nu ;  god 
selmihtig  pe  eac  ge-unne  ])CBt  pu.  on  myrhtSe  libban  mote  .  and  we 
willatS  beon  for  tSe  inne  gelome  j^aes  god  biddende  .  pcet  h6  Se  on 
fisere  halgan  geleaffulnysse  .  and  on  j^ines  geleafan  strengjje  .  and 

836  }3in  rice  on  Bibbe  gehealde  .  and  pcet  ure  hselend  Jjses  lyfigendan 
godes  sunn  .  ]?e  on  his  naman  wiS  ealle  fynd  gescylde  .  ge  on  Jjyson 
life  ge  on  J^sem  toweardan ;  him  to  wuldre  Se  on  ecnysse  leofatS  . 
and  rixatS   mid  fgeder  .  and  mid  suna   .  and   mid   t5am  halgan 

840  [gaste]^  on  ealra  worlda  [wor]uld^  a  buton  ende  .  amew. 

*  Part  of  these  words  cut  away. 


XXIII.   THE   SEVEN   SLEEPERS.  541 

His  glorious  Majesty  and  hear  His  own  voice  as  it  is  to  be  heard 
in  the  future,  when  at  His  great  Advent  all  men  universally  shall 
continue."  864 

Then  they  said,  "  Now,  now,  may  God  Almighty  grant  also  that 
thou  mayest  live  in  joy;  and  we  will  be  for  thee  [here]  within 
oftentimes  praying  God  for  this,  that  He  will  preserve  thee  in  holy 
fulness  of  faith,  and  in  the  strength  of  thy  belief,  and  thy  kingdom  868 
in  peace ;  and  that  our  Saviour,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,  may 
shield  thee  in  His  Name  against  all  enemies,  both  in  this  life  and 
in  that  which  is  to  come." 

To  His  glory  Who  liveth  to  eternity,  and  reigneth  with  the  873 
Father,  and  with  the  Son,  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost  to  all  ages  of 
ages,  ever  without  end.     Amen. 


NOTES  TO  VOL.  I. 


The  MSS.  are  as  follows : — 

A.  (or  Jul.)  =  Cotton  MS.  Julius  E.  7,  adopted  as  the  text. 

B.  =  MS.  Bodley  N.  E.  F.  4.  12  (now  Bodley  343)  ;  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  15.     See  Horn.  X. 

C.  =  MS.  Corpus  Chr.  Coll.  Camb.,  S.  8  (now  198);  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  125.     Horn.  V,  XV. 

D.  =  MS.  Corpus  Chr,  Coll.  Camb.,  S.  17  (now  303);  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  133.     Horn.  XII,  XIII,  XVI,  XVII,  XIX  (latter  part). 

E.  =  MS.  Corpus  Chr.  Coll.  Camb.  S.  9  (now  302);  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  128.     Hom.  XII,  XVII. 

F.  =  MS.  Corpus  Chr.  Coll.  Camb.,  S.  5  (now  162)  ;  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  116.     Hom.  XIII. 

G.  =  Gloucester  Fragments,  edited  by  Prof.  Earle.     Horn.  XXI. 

J.  =  MS.  Junius  23,  in  the  Bodleian  Library;  described  by  Wanley,  p.  36. 
Hom.  XVII,  XVIII,  XIX  (latter  part). 

0.  =  MS.  Cotton,  Otho  B.  10  (British  Museum);  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  190.  Much  burnt.  When  perfect,  it  contained  Homilies  II,  III,  IV,  V, 
VI,  VII,  XV,  XX,  XXI,  XXIII. 

U.  =  MS.  in  the  Cambridge  Univ.  Library,  marked  li.  I.  33;  described  by 
Wanley,  p.  162.     Hom.  X,  XV,  XVI,  XIX,  XX. 

V.  =  MS.  Cotton,  Vitellius  D.  1 7  (British  Museum)  ;  described  by  Wanley, 
p.  206.  Much  burnt.  When  perfect,  it  contained  Homilies  III,  V,  VII, 
VIII,  TX,  X,  XV,  XIX,  XX,  XXII. 

W.  =  MS.  in  the  Camb.  Univ.  Library,  marked  li.  4.  6;  described  by 
Wanley,  p.  160.     Hom.  XII,  XIII. 

Besides  these,  there  are  copies  of  Hom.  XIII  in  MS.  Junius  22  and  MS. 
Cotton,  Faustina  A.  9  ;  also  of  Hom.  XVII  in  MSS.  C.  C.  C,  S.  6  and  C.  C.  C, 
S.  14,  and  in  MS.  Junius  24.     See  also  note  to  Hom.  I,  p.  544. 

Preface. 

Page  4, 1.  46.  I  print  in  a  metrical  form  all  the  pieces  in  which  a  metrical 
rhytkm  can  be  traced ;  and  I  mark  the  dots,  or  stops,  as  they  exist  in  the  MS. 
These  dots  almost  invariably  occur  at  the  end  of  a  line  or  at  the  place  where 
the  metrical  pause  occurs  in  the  middle  of  one. 

Page  6,  1.  57.     Perhaps  two  metrical  lines  are  intended,  as  follows : — 
"  and  his  halgena  wundra  .  wurSiaS  hine. 
forjjan  })e  h^  worhte  .  ]>&  wundra  })urh  hi." 


544  NOTES. 

Page  8.  As  the  numbering  of  the  chapters  is  faulty  (see  the  foot-notes), 
I  adopt  the  true  numbering  given  on  pp.  9  and  1 1 . 

Homily  1 :   Nativity  of  Christ. 

I  have  since  found  that' there  is  another  copy  of  this  Homily,  viz.  in  MS. 
Bodley  343  (formerly  N.  E.  F.  4.  12),  at  fol.  155.  Wanley  (p.  24)  calls  it 
Homily  LXXV  in  that  MS.,  of  which  he  says — '  Desideratur  Ruhriea,  quam 
hanc  fuisse  conjicio :  In  Die  Nativitatis  domini  nostri  iesu  ohristi.' 
He  gives  the  opening  words  of  the  Homily  as  follows — "  A  la  gebroSrse  arsereS 
eowre  heorte  to  ^am  heofenlice  gode  mid  so'Se  ileafe  .  for  'Sisse  halgse  daege  . 
and  lufiaeS  eowre  haelend  ])e  mid  eadmodnesse  to  us  com  nu  to-dseg  on  soSe 
menniscnesse  acenned  of  marise  J)et  halige  mseden,"  It  will  be  seen  that  the 
wording  at  first  differs  from  that  of  the  "text,  but  gradually  approaches  it.  It 
is  a  late  and  inferior  text,  so  that  very  little  would  have  been  .gained  by 
collating  it ;  almost  the  only  gain  is  the  word  tvtle  in  1.  1 70,  as  already  said  in 
the  note  on  p.  vi.  A  sufficient  idea  of  the  readings  of  this  MS.  can  be  gained 
by  observing  the  readings  marked  "  B."  in  the  foot-notes  to  Homily  X. 

Wanley  gives  the  concluding  words  of  this  copy  thus :  "  To  })am  us  Isede  }>e 
leofse  drihten  Crist.  ]>e  pe  is  BO'S  wisdom  and  sawle  lif  ]>e  ^e  mid  his  ece 
faeder  .  and  mid  })am  halgae  gastae  leofseS  and  rixseS  a  on  ecenesse.     Amen." 

Compare  this  with  the  conclusion  on  p.  24. 

Homily  II:  St.  Eugenia. 

"  St.  Eugenia  suffered  at  Rome  under  Valerian  about  the  year  257,  and  is 
mentioned  by  St.  Avitus,  though  we  have  no  authentic  acts  of  her  sufferings, 
those  recited  by  Metaphrastes  and  Surius  deserving  no  notice." — Butler. 

Page  24.  There  is  only  one  other  copy,  that  in  MS.  0.  This  MS.,  now 
much  burnt,  was  perfect  when  Wanley  described  it.  He  tells  us  that  Homily 
VIII  (fol.  54  in  that  MS.)  began  thus  :  "  Mseg  gehyran  se  ])e  wile  be  0am 
halgan  msedene  eugenian  philippes  dohtor,"  The  fragment  now  left  begins  at 
fol.  10  of  the  MS.  as  now  re-bound,  corresponding  with  p.  32,  1.  117.  I  have 
given  such  variations  as  I  could  decipher  in  the  foot-notes  to  pp.  32,  34,  36, 
38,  40.     Fol.  II  of  0.  begins  in  the  middle  of  1.  189  (p.  36). 

For  the  translation  of  this  Homily,  I  am  myself  responsible ;  see  p.  vii, 
note  I. 

P.  38, 1.  214.  MS.  geraefa,  altered  to  gerefa.  In  all  such  cases,  I  give  the 
corrected  reading,  and  I  have  generally  given  both  the  original  and  the  cor- 
rected reading  in  the  foot-notes.  I  note  here  a  few  cases  in  which  I  have 
neglected  to  give  the  original  reading.  In  some  undoubted  cases  of  error, 
I  have  forgotten  to  note  the  original  reading  at  all. 

225.    MS.  gewyten,  altered  to  gewyta,n. 

P.  40,  1.  256.     MS.  heroden,  alt.  to  herodon. 

259.  MS.  welhreowen,  alt.  to  welhreowan. 

P.  42,  1.  282.     MS.  eahte,  alt.  to  eahta. 

297.  gersefan,  alt.  to  gerefan  ;  rseSum,  alt.  to  reSum.  (I  may  add  that  the 
scribe  frequently  alters  ce  to  e,  and  e  to  a). 

P.  46,  1.  378.     MS.  cytJeres,  alt.  to  cySeras. 


NOTES.  545 

380.  MS.  martyres,  alt.  to  martyras. 
P.  48, 1.  394.     MS.  bande,  alt.  to  banda. 

Homily  III :  St.  Basil. 

Tbe  life  of  St.  Basil  the  Great,  bisbop  of  Caesarea  (born  A.D.  329,  died  Jan  I, 
379),  is  given  by  Alban  Butler  under  June  14.  Jan.  i  is  the  day  of  his 
death ;  June  14,  the  day  of  his  ordination  as  bishop. 

Of  this  Homily  there  are  two  other  copies,  viz.  in  MSS.  0.  and  V.,  both  of 
which  are  much  burnt.     I  give  such  variations  as  I  could  decipher. 

Waniey  (p.  191)  says  that  the  Homily  was  No.  Ill  in  O.,  and  began  on 
fol.  17,  with  the  words  : — "Basilius  waes  gehaten*  sum  halig  bisceop  .  se  waes 
fram  cyldhade  swiSe  gehealdsum."  As  now  bound  up,  the  Homily  begins  on 
fol.  3. 

But  the  most  remarkable  fact  is  that  already  mentioned  in  note  i  on  p.  70, 
that,  besides  the  copy  of  this  Homily  near  the  beginning  of  MS.  0.  (as  now 
bound  up),  there  is  a  second  different  copy  of  it  in  the  very  same  MS.  at  fol.  50, 
Now,  as  Wanley's  full  description  gives  no  hint  of  any  second  copy  in  this  MS., 
I  can  only  suppose  that  a  fragment  of  MS.  V.  (also  badly  burnt)  has  found  its 
way  into  this  MS.  in  the  process  of  the  attempt  to  restore  and  rebind  these 
two  much  damaged  MSS.  I  have  denoted  the  readings  of  this  second  copy  by 
"  O2,"  but  I  suspect  "  V."  should  have  been  used  instead.  It  will  be  observed 
that  Oj.  begins  about  1.  334,  whilst  V.  apparently  ends  at  1.  301,  just  a  little 
earlier. 

P.  50,  1.  10.     MS.  grsecum,  alt.  to  grecum. 

P.  52,  11.  28,  30,  32,  33,  36  .  The  words  secgan,  secan,  ferde,  egypta, 
twelf,  ferde,  eft,  all  originally  had  ce  for  e.     So  also  ferdon  in  1.  56. 

P.  56, 1.  117.  We  may  notice  the  form  bena,  used  as  a  dative.  In  1.  112, 
it  is  really  plural. 

P.  58,  1.  133.     Note  (Bt  y.era  dura,  datives  in  -a. 

P.  66,  1.  263.     MS.  aet-sewod,  alt.  to  set-ewod. 

P.  78,  1.  482.     MS.  afsedde,  alt.  to  afedde. 

P.  84,  1.  580.     MS.  ])8es,  alt.  to  fes. 

Homily  IV:  St.  Julian. 

St.  Julian  was  martyred  on  Jan.  6,  313.  On  account  of  that  day  being  the 
Epiphany,  the  festival  of  St.  Julian  was  kept  on  various  days  in  different 
churches,  two  of  these  days  being  Jan.  9  and  Jan.  13.  This  explains  the 
allusion  to  the  Ides  of  January ;  see  note  i,  p.  91. 

The  only  other  copy  is  the  fragment  in  0.,  beginning  at  1.  27;  see  p.  92, 
note  I,  and  the  variations  given.  Waniey  (p.  191)  says  that  it  was  formerly 
Homily  V  in  that  MS.,  and  began  on  fol.  32,  back,  with  the  words :  "  luli- 
anus  waes  gehaten  sum  sejjele  godes  J)egn  on  egypta  lande." 

P.  96, 1.  104.     MS.  aegyptiscan,  alt.  to  egyptiscan. 

Homily  V :  St.  Sebastian. 
St.  Sebastian  was  shot  to  death  with  arrows  at  Rome,  a.d.  288. 


^  I  read  it  haten,  as  noted  on  p.  50. 


35 


546  NOTES. 

Baring  Gould,  in  his  Lives  of  the  Saints,  under  June,  p.  251,  has  the  follow- 
ing account,  almost  in  the  same  words  as  that  by  Alban  Butler  : — 

"June  18.  SS.  Marcus  and  Marcdlinus,  A.  D.  286.  Marcus  and  Mar- 
cellinus  were  twin  brothers  of  a  noble  family  in  Eome,  who  had  been  con- 
verted and  baptized  in  their  youth,  and  were  married.  Diocletian  ascended 
the  imperial  throne  in  284,  and,  before  he  issued  his  edict  of  persecution,  the 
Christians  in  the  capital  and  elsewhere  suffered  from  popular  tumults,  or  the 
illwill  of  cruel  magistrates.  Marcus  and  Marcellinus  were  thrown  into 
prison,  and  condemned  to  be  beheaded  by  Chromatins,  the  lieutenant  of  the 
prefect  of  Eome.  Their  friends  obtained  a  respite  of  thirty  days,  in  which 
they  hoped  to  prevail  on  them  to  comply  with  the  laws,  and  adore  the  gods  of 
the  state  religion.  For  this  purpose  they  were  removed  from  prison  to  the 
house  of  Nicostratus,  the  registrar.  Tranquillinus  and  Martia,  their  parents, 
in  company  with  their  wives  and  little  ones,  visited  them,  and  endeavoured  to 
shake  their  constancy  by  their  tears.  But  St.  Sebastian  visited  them  and  en- 
couraged them.  He  succeeded  in  converting  both  Tranquillinus  and  Martia, 
and  afterwards,  by  loosening  the  tongue  of  Zoe,  the  wife  of  Nicostratus,  con- 
verted him  also,  and  soon  afterwards  Chromatins,  who  set  the  Saints  at 
liberty,  and,  abdicating  the  magistracy,  retired  into  the  country. 

"  Marcus  and  Marcellinus  were  hidden  by  a  Christian  officer  named  Castulus, 
in  his  apartments  in  the  palace  of  Diocletian,  but  were  betrayed  by  a  false 
Christian,  Torquatus,  and  were  retaken.  Fabian,  who  succeeded  Chromatins, 
ordered  them  to  be  tied,  and  their  feet  to  be  nailed  to  a  wooden  post.  The 
brothers  bore  their  pains  with  great  cheerfulness,  and  sang,  '  Behold,  how  good 
and  joyful  it  is,  brethren,  to  dwell  together  in  unity.'  After  having  been  thus 
exposed  for  a  day,  they  were  run  through  with  lances.  Their  bodies  were  laid 
in  the  catacomb  which  has  since  borne  their  name,  and  are  now  in  the  Church 
of  SS.  Nicholas  and  Praxedes,  in  Rome." 

There  were  once  three  other  copies  of  this  Homily,  viz.  in  MSS.  C,  O.,  and 
V.  That  in  O.  has  (I  think)  disappeared,  owing  to  the  injured  state  of  the 
MS.  Wanley  (p.  191)  says  that  it  began,  in  O.,  at  fol.  39,  back,  with  the 
words:  "Sebastianus  hatte  sum  halig  godes  })egn  .  se  wees  lange  on  lare." 
By  a  curious  error,  he  calls  it  Homily  V,  though  he  has  already  marked  the 
preceding  Homily  with  the  same  number. 

The  various  readings  from  C.  and  V.  are  given  in  the  foot-notes.  A  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  copy  in  V.  is  legible,  and  the  MS.,  when  perfect,  must 
have  been  a  very  good  one. 

Homily  VI :  St.  Maur. 

St.  Maur,  a  disciple  of  St.  Benedict,  died  Jan.  15,  584. 

The  only  other  copy,  in  0.,  has  entirely  perished.  Wanley  (p.  191)  says  it 
began  on  fol.  27  with  the  words:  "Maurus  wses  haten  sum  swipe  halig 
abbod." 

Note  to  St.  Maur;  p.  153,1.  73-  St.  Faustus,  one  of  St.  Benedict's  dis- 
ciples and  a  companion  of  St.  Maur,  wrote  the  life  of  the  latter ;  it  was  edited 
by  the  BoUandists  from  various  existing  MS.  The  following  is  the  description 
of  the  donation  of  the  Relics  to  St.  Maur  [Acta  Sanctorum,  i.  p.  1042],  cap. 
iii.  19:    "Honoratus  the  monk  presented  St.  Maur  with  a  magnificent  gift. 


NOTES.  547 

viz.  an  ebony  casket  containing  certain  relics  and  a  brief  letter.  These  St. 
Benedict  had  specially  ordered  to  be  given.  They  consisted  of  three  fragments 
of  the  wood  of  the  true  Cross,  and  certain  relics  of  the  holy  Mother  of  God, 
and  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  to  wit,  a  fragment  of  a  red  hanging  be- 
longing to  a  chapel  [or  altar]  dedicated  to  him  [Sanctique  Michaelis  Arch- 
angeli,  ex  palliolo  rubeo  sanclje  scilicet  ejus  memoriae],  and  some  relics  of 
St.  Stephen  the  protomartyr,  and  blessed  Martin  the  Confessor  of  Christ." 
Upon  this  Mabillon  [or  rather,  Dom.  Theodoric  Ruinart,  author  of  the 
Apologia  St.  Mauri,  forming  the  first  Appendix]  in  his  Annales  Ord.  S.  Bened. 
i.  651,  remarks  that  certain  people  have  ridiculed  the  idea  of  a  i"elic  of  St. 
Michael,  as  if  St.  Faustus  had  meant  that  the  "palliolum  rubeum"  was  a  red 
vestment  which  had  been  worn  by  St.  Michael  the -Archangel.  But,  he  says, 
every  one  versed  in  ecclesiastical  lore  knows  that,  in  the  language  of  St. 
Faustus'  time,  the  phrase  "  memoria  sua "  meant  a  chapel  or  cell  or  altar 
dedicated  to  the  person  indicated.  The  altars  and  shrines  of  the  Saints  were 
hung,  both  for  convenience  sake  and  out  of  honour  and  reverence,  with 
tapestries  and  such-like  stuflFs,  and  these  were  called  Pallia,  or  Pallae,  or 
Pidliolse.  The  faithful  who  visited  the  shrines  were  accustomed,  out  of  devo- 
tion, to  kiss  these  hangings  and  apply  them  to  their  bodies  if  suffering  under 
disease,  and  would  always  esteem  it  as  a  most  precious  gift,  if  they  were 
allowed  to  carry  away  with  them  a  few  threads,  or  a  fragment,  and  would 
venerate  them  as  relics. 

This  we  learn  from  St.  Gregory  of  Tours  and  other  writers  of  his  age.  Indeed, 
even  flowers  which  had  been  placed  on  the  altar,  or  drops  of  oil  from  the 
lamps,  or  fragments  of  wax  from  the  candles,  were  looked  on  as  relics. 

For  this  we  have  not  only  the  testimony  of  St.  Gregory  of  Tours,  but  that 
of  the  Fathers,  such  as  St.  Jerome,  St.  Augustine,  St.  Gregory  the  Great,  &c. 
Every  one  knows,  as  St.  Leo  and  St.  Gregory  the  Great  and  others  relate,  how 
often  miracles  were  said  to  be  wrought  by  means  of  handkerchiefs  which  had 
been  laid  on  the  tombs  of  the  Apostles. 

The  particles  of  the  Palliolum  from  the  "  Memoria  "  or  altar  of  St.  Michael, 
which  St.  Benedict  gave  to  St.  Maur,  were  taken  from  a  hanging  or  palliolum 
with  which  the  altar  of  St.  Michael  was  covered. 


Homily  VII :  St.  Agnes. 

St.  Agnes  suffered  about  a.  d.  304  or  305.  The  account  of  her  sufferings  is 
given  by  St.  Ambrose  of  Milan. 

The  only  other  copies  are  those  in  O.  (collated  as  far  as  legible,  though  very 
little  remains)  and  in  V.,  now  entirely  destroyed.  Wanley  (p.  191)  says  that 
the  copy  in  0.  began  at  fol.  48  with  the  words  :  "  Ambrosius  bisceop  binnan 
mediolana  .  afunde  on  ealdum  bocum  be  Jjare  eadigan  agne."  The  copy  in  V. 
began  at  fol.  211,  back. 

In  all  three  MSS.  the  story  of  the  martyrdom  of  St.  Agnes  is  followed  by 
another  piece,  called  (in  O.)  Passio  Sanctorum  Johannis  et  Pauli.  See  p.  186. 
The  day  of  SS.  John  and  Paul  is  June  26.  They  were  officers  in  the  army 
of  Julian  the  Apostate,  and  were  martyred  about  a.d.  36a. 

The  connection  with  St  Agnes  appears  in  1.  321,  p.  188. 

35-2 


548  NOTES. 

HoMiLT  VIII :   St.  Agatha. 

St.  Agatha  suffered  at  Catania  in  Sicily,  a.d.  251.  Note  the  reference  to 
Mount  Etna,  1.  218;  and  see  note  i,  p.  209.  The  emperor  mentioned  in 
1.  4  is  Decius. 

Wanley  (p.  208)  says  there  was  another  copy  of  this  Homily  in  V.,  fol. 
217,  beginning  :  "Agathes  wses  geciged  '  sum  gesselig  mseden  on  ^aere  scire 
sicilia."     It  is  now  destroyed. 

We  may  compare  the  A.  S.  homily  with  the  Middle  English  legend  of 
St.  Agatha  printed  in  Altenglische  Legenden,  Neue  Folge,  ed.  Horstmann, 
1881,  p.  45. 

Homily  IX:  St.  Lucy. 

St.  Lucy  of  Syracuse  was  martyred  under  Diocletian,  a.d.  304.  Her  day  is 
Dec.  13,  but  her  story  is  inserted  here  on  account  of  her  connection  with  St. 
Agatha ;  see  1.  i  of  the  Homily, 

Wanley  (p.  208)  tells  us  that  there  was  another  copy  in  V.,  fol.  220,  back, 
also  following  immediately  upon  the  Homily  of  St.  Agatha.  It  is  now  de- 
stroyed. Compare  the  Middle  English  legend  of  St.  Lucy,  ed.  Horstmann,  as 
above,  p.  17. 

Homily  X:   Chair  of  St,  Peter. 

On  Feb.  22  was  commemorated  the  Chair  of  St.  Peter  at  Antioch,  i.e.  the 
day  of  St.  Peter's  consecration  as  bishop  of  Antioch  before  his  subsequent 
consecration  at  Rome;  see  p,  221.  Alban  Butler  refers  us  to  Eusebius, 
Origen,  St.  Jerome,  St.  Innocent,  and  others. 

At  1.  200  begins  the  story  of  St.  Petronilla,  St.  Peter's  daughter,  whose 
proper  day  is  May  31. 

Other  copies  exist  in  B.  and  XJ.  I  give  the  readings  of  JJ.,  and  selected 
readings  from  the  late  and  ill-spelt  copy  in  B.  Wanley  (p.  208)  tells  us  that 
there  was  a  copy  in  V.,  at  fol.  222  ;  but  it  is  now  destroyed. 

Compare  the  Middle  English  legend  concerning  the  Chair  of  St.  Peter,  ed, 
Horstmann,  as  above,  p,  49. 

Homily  XI :  The  Forty  Soldiers. 

The  usual  day  assigned  to  the  Forty  Martyrs  of  Sebaste  is  March  9,  but 
A.  Butler  gives  his  account  of  them  under  March  10.  The  chief  accounts  are 
those  given  by  St.  Basil,  Horn,  xx.,  and  by  St.  Gregory  of  Nyssa,  Discourses, 
vol.  ii.     The  supposed  date  of  their  martyrdom  is  a.d.  320. 

There  seems  to  be  no  other  copy  of  this  Homily. 

Homily  XII :  Ash  Wednesday. 

Tlie  metrical  part  of  this  Homily  is  very  poor;  see  note  i,  p.  260.  Caput 
leiunii,  or  Head  of  the  Fast,  is  a  name  for  the  first  day  of  Lent. 

Other  copies  exist  in  D.,  E.,  and  W.     The  various  readings  are  given. 
Note  to  1.  7,     JEX^Tic  is  here  speaking  of  the  Divine  OflBce,  not  of  Mass. 

^  At  p.  194  (1.  I  of  tlie  Homily")  read  geciged. 


NOTES.  549 

Homily  XIII :  Prayer  op  Moses. 

The  Prayer  of  Moses  is  that  against  the  Amalekites ;  Exod.  xvii.  1 1. 

Tliere  are  at  least  five  other  copies  of  this  Homily.  I  give  collations  from 
D.,  F.,  and  W.  There  are  also  copies  in  MS.  Junius  23,  fol.  60;  and  MS. 
Cotton,  Faustina  A.  9,  fol.  84,  back. 

The  copy  in  MS.  Junius  22  agrees  very  closely  with  the  text.  On  p.  306 
I  observed  the  following  variations,  which  may  serve  as  specimens,  viz. : 
311.  gecynaS.  313.  fsegre.  315.  heorte.  316.  gelencgaS.  318.  truwan. 
322.  mann. 

The  copy  in  Faustina  A.  9  agrees  with  the  printed  text  very  closely.  I 
collated  the  latter  portion,  1.  91  to  the  end,  and  observed  that  the  scribe  has 
added  several  accents,  some  of  them  in  strange  places,  as,  e.  g.  over  the  o  in 
weorcum  (1.  116).     Besides  these,  the  following  are  variations  of  spelling: — 

94.  lengtene.  95.  seoke.  96.  etenne.  100.  micelan.  loi.  fyr;  mis.  f ram 
before  godes;  mildsunge.  103.  getiefenlicnysse.  no.  mancyn.  112.  ou- 
Bcunie.  114.  biggengum.  116.  wlsa.  117.  ealda ;  eawfsestnysse.  119.  sel- 
mysdeedum.  126.  buton  steore.  128.  habbe.  130.  Jiearfe.  132.  sot.  133. 
gehftdedan  men.  135.  men.  I39.  heafodmen.  140.  gimaS.  141.  glmaS. 
144.  wyrc^ ;  forsewenyssa.  145.  sceolon.  146.  hlra.  148.  wuniende.  149. 
-Iffa.  150.  -men.  152.  om.  hit;  ins.  J)a  hef.  munuc-lif.  154.  hungor. 
155.  bysmore.  156.  swylcum  {for  )?ysum).  158.  symle.  161.  buton.  162. 
afyrsie.  166.  6ren  si.  178.  sceolon.  179.  men.  183.  englum.  186.  for- 
li'gere.  190.  wrrecan.  191.  fricodoston.  193.  Abraham.  196.  wuniende. 
198.  arie.  203.  getfSode.  204.  J)a  god.  211.  merien.  216.  mycelum. 
218.  8ingion.  220.  men.  228.  of-hrdrene.  229.  hyra.  231.  fandodan  ; 
gegremedon.  234.  gremie.  236.  unSwsere ;  om.  and  ])wyre.  239.  and  god 
lufa^.  241.  he  agylte.  244.  hungor;  gewin.  250.  om.  sende  ;  engel  him 
t<5  ^ende.  251.  engel.  253.  engel;  cyning.  257.  engel.  259.  unriht. 
267.  engel;  men.  270.  Sing.  275.  niniueiscan;  ferdon.  278.  sceolde. 
279.  cyning.  285.  hyra.  286.  cdorian.  293.  oj».  and.  295.  men.  302.  oj». 
J)aet  is  on  englisc.  303.  fac  {sie).  304.  sceolon ;  om.  hi.  307.  sceolon.  308. 
hyra.  311.  hyra.  315.  hy.  316.  gelencga'S.  318.  truwan.  319.  toswySe; 
snotornysse.     321.  gewisaS.     326.  drihtenes. 

Note  to  p.  302,  1.  280.  The  reading  ofY.  restores  the  true  text.  This  long 
line  should  really  be  two  lines,  thus : 

to  9am  selmihtigan  gode  .  and  hi  ealle  faeston 
6ry  dagas  on  an  .  and  drihten  him  geiniltsode. 

Homily  XIV:  St.  George. 

St.  George  of  Cappadocia  is  said  to  have  been  martyred  about  A.D  303. 

In  1.  I,  ^Ifric  refers  to  the  false  stories  about  him.  Alban  Butler  says — 
"  Certain  ancient  heretics  forged  false  acts  of  St.  George,  which  the  learned 
pope  Gelasius  condemned  in  his  famous  Roman  council  in  494.  Calvin  and  the 
Centuriators  call  him  an  imaginary  saint ;  but  their  slander  is  confuted  by 
most  authentic  titles  and  monuments." 

The  only  other  extant  copy  is  that  in  MS.  U.,  the  readings  of  which  are 
given.  Wanley  tells  us  that  there  were  also  copies  in  O.  and  V.,  but  I  cannot 
find  traces  of  them,  and  they  have  (I  think)  perished. 


550  NOTES. 

The  title  of  publication  88  (vol.  28)  of  the  Percy  Society  is:  "An 
Anglo-Saxon  Passion  of  St.  George,  from  a  MS.  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Library.  Edited  by  the  Rev.  C.  Hardwick,  1850."  That  is  to  say,  Mr.  Hard- 
wick  has  printed  MS.  U,  at  length,  giving  various  readings  from  MS.  Julius 
E.  7.  The  result  is  much  the  same,  but  MS.  Julius  E.  7  has  somewhat  the 
better  text. 

I  have  collated  Mr.  Hardwick's  copy  with  my  own  work,  and  here  note 
some  errors  in  his  text.  In  1.  5,  he  has  in  for  on ;  in  1.  6,  ealdormann  for 
ealdorman ;  in  1.  9,  tednan  for  teonan ;  in  1.  24,  secgan  for  segan  (as  in  U.) ; 
in  1.  49,  cBltewne  for  celtcBwne ;  in  1.  88,  tiva  for  swa ;  in  1.  127,  ys  torus, 
which  gives  no  sense ;  with  other  small  variations. 

In  1.  42,  he  translates  on  hencgene  ahcebban  by  "in  prison  to  hold ;"  and  in 
1.  105,  he  translates  Tiioer  by  "  ewer,"  though  ewer  is  not  a  good  word  to 
select,  as  it  seems  to  insinuate  that  Jiwer  and  ewer  -^  are  the  same  word. 

In  MS.  C.  C.  C.  196  (formerly  D.  5)  there  is  a  notice  of  "Sawc^e  georius  tyd 
])ses  sejjelan  martyres"  opposite  the  date  April  23;  see  Wanley,  p.  107,  col.  i, 
1.  3 ;  and  there  is  a  prayer  invoking  the  intercession  "  beati  Georgii  martyris," 
in  the  Durham  Ritual,  ed.  Stevenson,  p.  52.  Mr.  Hardwick  draws  attention 
to  these  references  in  his  Notes,  where  some  further  illustrations  will  be 
found.     He  gives  in  full  the  account  of  St.  George  in  MS.  C.  C.  0.  196. 

Homily  XV:  St.  Mabk. 

St.  Mark  was  martyred  at  Alexandria,  Apr.  25,  a.d.  68. 

There  are  three  other  copies,  viz.  in  C,  U.,  and  V.  I  give  the  variations 
in  the  foot-notes. 

In  all  four  copies  the  Homily  is  supplemented  by  a  second,  entitled  "  Item 
ALIA  "  in  A.,  C,  and  U. ;  but  in  V.  the  title  is  "  De  quatuor  Evangelistaeum  " 
(«tc),  and  the  subject  is  the  Four  Evangelists.     See  p.  326. 

Compare  this  homily  with  the  Northumbrian  legend  of  St.  Mark  by  Barbi  ur, 
printed  in  Barbour's  Legendensammlung,  ed.  Horstmann,  1881,  p.  116;  also 
p.  114. 

Homily  XVI:  Memory  of  Saints. 

To  be  read  on  any  occasion,  as  the  rubric  says.  There  are  two  other  copies 
in  D.  and  U. ;  and  the  various  readings  are  given. 

Homily  XVII :  On  Auguries. 
In  all  the  copies  this  Homily  is  accompanied  by  a  second  part,  beginning  at 
1.  67  on  p.  368. 

There  are  six  other  copies  of  this  Homily,  but  it  seemed  to  me  sufficient  to 
collate  two  of  them,  viz,  those  in  D.  and  E.  Tlie  other  four  copies  are  as 
follows : — 

MS.  Junius  23,  fol.  30,  back;  MS.  Junius  24,  p.  347;  C.C.  C.  S.  6  (now 
178),  p.  88  ;  C.  C.C.  S.  14  (now  419),  p.  281. 

Wanley  (p.  42)  notes  that  the  copy  in  MS.  Jun.   24  is  much  longer  and 
fuller  than  the  rest,  and  ends  with  the  following  lines  : — 
0aet  se  deada  arise  ])urh  hyre  dry-crteft. 
deofol-gild  .  and  dry-craeft  .  wicc-craeft  and  wiglunga, 

'  Ewer  is  of  Ftench  origin,  and  answers  to  a  Lat.  aquaritt. 


NOTES.  551 

synd  swySe  andsaete  urum  hselende  criste. 

and  Sa  ^e  J)a  crseftas  begaS  .  syndan  godes  wiSersacan. 

and  hy  soSlice  belimpaS  to  J)am  swicolan  deofle. 

mid  hym  sefre  to  wunigenne  .  on  J)am  ecum  witum  .  a  buton  ende. 

Homily  XVIT  :  Book  of  Kings. 

This  is  a  mere  epitome  of  passages  from  the  Book  of  Kings  ;  the  extracts 
relate  to  Saul,  David,  Ahab,  Jehu,  Hezekiah,  Manasses,  and  Josiah. 

There  is  but  one  other  (later)  copy,  in  J.  All  the  variations  of  importance 
are  given  in  the  foot-notes. 

Homily  XIX:  St.  Alban. 

The  Passion  of  St.  Alban  is  related  by  Beda,  Eccl.  Hist.,  lib.  i.  c.  7,  8. 
jElfric's  account  follows  Beda's  tolerably  closely,  but  his  mention  of  Hengist 
and  Horsa  (I.  148)  is  interesting,  as  this  remark  is  not  in  the  Latin.  For 
further  information,  see  the  Preface  to  Vie  de  Seint  Auban,  a  Norman-French 
version,  edited  by  Dr.  Atkinson  in  1876. 

In  the  Laud  MS,  of  the  A.  S.  Chronicle,  the  entry  "  Her  J)rowade  sawc^MS 
Albanus  martyr"  occurs  under  the  date  286. 

Tlie  story  really  ends  at  1.  154,  on  p.  424 ;  but  it  is  supplemented  by  another 
Homily  on  a  totally  unconnected  subject,  viz.  the  story  of  Absalom  and 
Ahitophel. 

Of  the  story  of  St.  Alban  there  is  another  copy  in  U.,  the  variations  of 
which  are  given.  Wanley  (p.  208)  tells  us  that  there  was  once  another  copy 
in  v.,  fol.  226,  back  ;  but  it  has  wholly  perished. 

Of  Absalom  and  Ahitophel  there  are  three  other  copies  extant,  viz.  in  D., 
J.,  and  U. ;  the  variations  of  these  are  given.  Wanley  tells  us  that  there  was 
once  another  copy  in  V.,  fol.  228,  back;  this  has  perished  like  the  former. 
In  MSS.  A.,  U.,  and  V.,  the  stories  of  St.  Alban  and  of  Absalom  are  found  in 
immediate  connection,  as  here  printed.  But  it  is  remarkable  that  the  story  of 
Absalom  occurs  alone  in  MSS.  D.  and  J.  Wanley  says  that  the  title  of  this 
story  jn  V.,  was  "  De  iniustis,"  with  which  compare  1.  233,  p.  430. 

Homily  XX  :  Sr.  ^thelthbyth. 

The  correct  spelling  is  .^])el])ry3,  i.  e.  "noble  strength  ;"  see  my  Notes  on 
Etymology,  read  before  the  Philological  Society,  Nov.  7,  1884;  s.  v.  Tawdry. 
The  story  is  in  Beda,  Eccl.  Hist.,  lib.  iv.  c.  19,  as  noted  at  p.  433.  There  is  a 
still  fuller  account,  says  Butler,  in  the  History  of  Ely,  by  Thomas,  a  monk  of 
Ely.     The  saint  died  at  Ely,  June  23,  679. 

Other  copies  are  in  U.  and  O.  (fol.  45  as  now  bound,  formerly  fol.  193),  the 
latter  being  much  burnt;  the  various  readings  in  these  are  given.  Wanley 
(p.  208)  says  there  was  once  a  fourth  copy  in  V.,  fol.  230 ;  but  it  has  now 
perished. 

Compare  the  Middle  English  legend  of  St.  Etheldreda,  in  Altenglische 
Legenden,  ed.  Horstmann,  Neue  Folge,  i88r,  p.  282. 

Homily  XXI :  St.  Swithhon. 
The  name  is  almost  invariably  mis-spelt  with  one  h;  and  even  the  A.  S. 
version  has  swy^un  in  1.  4  and  elsewhere.     But  it  is  certjiinly  a  conipound 


552  NOTES. 

of  swi^  (sivith),  i.  e.  strong,  and  -kun,  as  in  Him-berht,  Hun-ferth,  &c.  The 
correct  spelling  Swi^hun  occurs  in  the  foot-notes  to  11.  23,  29,  36,  56,  76,  82, 
98,  &c.     In  the  note  to  1.  29,  the  u  is  accented. 

For  further  information,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  learned  and  interesting 
book  by  Professor  Earle,  entitled  "  Gloucester  Fragments  :  Saint  SwitJhun  and 
St.  Maria  -^gyptiaca;"  London,  Longmans,  1861.  Tliis  work  contains  fac- 
similes of  certain  leaves  of  an  A.  S.  MS.,  and  numerous  illustrative  pieces, 
including  two  Latin  biographies  of  St.  Swithhun,  a  Middle-English  life,  in 
rime,  from  MS.  Laud  463,  fol.  63,  the  prose  life  in  Caxton's  Golden  Legende, 
A.D.  1483,  &c.  The  letter  of  Lantfrid  on  the  miracles  of  St.  Swithhun  is  in 
MS.  Royal,  15  O.  vii ;  Prof.  Earle  gives  a  sketch  of  it,  with  some  extracts,  at 
p.  60  of  his  book.  A  later  copy  of  the  same  is  in  MS.  Nero  E  i  (foot-note  on 
p.  66  of  Prof.  Earle's  work).  Another  Latin  life  is  printed  at  p.  67,  from  MS. 
Arundel,  No   169,  in  the  British  Museum. 

The  A.  S.  text,  printed  by  Prof.  Earle,  is  taken  from  three  leaves  which 
were  found  inside  the  covering  of  a  book  in  the  Gloucester  Cathedral  Library. 
Fac-similes  of  these  leaves  were  produced  by  photozincography  in  Prof.  Earle's 
book,  and  I  have  thus  been  enabled  to  give  all  the  various  readings  of  the 
(imperfect)  text  found  in  these  Gloucester  Fragments.  On  a  late  casual  and 
hurried  visit  to  the  Cathedral  Library,  on  which  occasion  I  was  most  kindly 
assisted  by  the  present  librarian,  the  leaves  themselves  could  not  at  the  instant 
be  found,  but  we  at  once  came  across  a  book  bound  in  boards,  on  the  inside  of 
which  the  reversed  impression  of  part  of  the  A.  S.  text  was  distinctly  visible. 
I  could  even  read  the  word  hyrgene,  which  occurs  in  11.  16  and  20  of  the  first 
page  of  the  fac-siniile,  or  in  11.  38  and  43  of  my  printed  text.  I  learn, 
however,  that  the  leaves  are  quite  safe  and  accessible,  and  are  now  accompanied 
by  a  printed  notice,  stating  tliat  they  were  found  in  the  Registers  of  Abbots 
Braunch  and  Newton. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  Prof.  Earle,  in  collecting  all  the  available  materials 
for  his  work,  should  have  overlooked  at  the  time  the  perfect  copy  of  the  present 
Homily  as  found  in  MS.  Jul.  E.  7.  When  found,  it  was  too  late  to  be  of 
service,  and  is  now  printed  here  for  the  first  time. 

Wanley  (p.  192)  tells  us  tbat  there  was  a  copy  of  this  Homily  in  0.,fol.  181, 
back.  I  have  not  given  the  various  readings,  as  I  could  not  at  first  find  the 
mutilated  remains  of  it  in  the  MS.  as  now  re-bound.  I  have  since  noted  that 
there  is  a  burnt  fragment  at  (the  present)  fol.  37. 

Prof.  Earle  gives  a  translation  of  a  part  of  the  Homily.  I  have  compared 
it  with  Miss  Gunning's,  printed  in  this  volume ;  they  agree  in  all  that  is 
essential. 

By  referring  to  p.  470,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Homily  on  St.  Swithhun  is 
supplemented  by  a  totally  different,  but  brief  story  about  St.  Macarius.  There 
were  two  saints  of  this  name  living  at  the  same  time,  viz.  St.  Macarius  of 
Alexandria,  commemorated  on  Jan.  2,  and  St.  Macarius  the  Elder,  com- 
memorated on  Jan.  16.  Both  lived  for  many  years  in  the  Egyptian  desert. 
I  know  of  no  other  extant  copy  of  this  story  in  Anglo-Saxon. 

Homily  XXII :  St.  Apollinaris. 
St.  Apollinaris  was   the  first   bishop  of  Ravenna,  and  was  said   to  be    a 
disciple  of  St.  Peter. 


NOTES.  553 

The  only  other  copy,  in  V.,  is  very  much  burnt.  I  give  a  few  various 
readings,  where  legible. 

HoHiLT  XXIII :  The  Seven  Sleepers. 

See  a  discussion  of  this  story  in  Baring-Gould's  "  Curious  Myths  of  the 
Middle  Ages." 

Wanley  (p.  191)  notes  another  copy  in  0.,  at  fol.  95,  back,  in  which  the 
fifth  word  in  1.  i  was  correctly  written  eadigra.  Burnt  fragments  of  this 
copy  Mill  exist,  but  the  leaves  have  been  transposed  in  re-binding.  The 
present  fragments  will  be  found  at  folios  21,  19,  20,  22,  and  18  (this  is  the 
correct  order).  Tlie  first  fragment  begins  at  1.  470,  on  p.  516.  The  variations 
of  0.  are  occasionally  important,  as  it  supplies  a  few  missing  words. 

Wanley  remarks  that  the  copy  in  0.  was  much  fuller,  at  the  end,  than  that  here 
printed,  which,  in  fact,  ends  suddenly  at  1.  836.  Wanley  gives  the  concluding 
words  of  the  Homily,  as  in  O.,  wiiich  prove  his  point.  They  are  as  follows  : — 
"  Saet  J)onne  heo  cume .  we  ])urh  fisra  and  furh  eallra  balgena  geearnunga 
faran  motan  .  into  heofona  rices  myrhj)e  .  and  ])aer  habban  lif  and  blisse  .  mid 
J)an  J)e  leofaS  and  ricsaS  .  a  buta  ende.     Amen," 

Curiously  enough,  there  is  a  brief  Homily  on  the  Seven  Sleepers  in  the 
collection  of  .^Ifric's  Homilies  printed  by  Thorpe,  vol.  ii.  p.  424.  Brief  as  it 
is,  it  is  a  little  fuller  at  the  end,  and  enables  us  to  complete  the  Homily  in 
.^Ifric's  own  words.     After  1.  836,  the  story  continues  thus  : — 

^fter  Sison  feollon  hi  eft  setforan  })ani  casere  .  swa  swa  god  bebead  .  and 
heora  gast  ageafon.  J?a  wolde  se  casere  wyrcan  him  eallum  gyldene  scryn  .  ac 
hi  jeteowodon  him  on  'Saere  ylcan  nyhte  and  sa;don  .  of  eor'San  we  arisen  .  laet 
us  on  eor^an  gerestan  .  oSJjaet  god  lis  eft  seraere.  Se  casere  Sa  and  his  bisceopas 
serserdon  ma;re  cyrcan  ofer  heora  lichaman  .  to  lofe  8am  selmihtigan  gode  .  seSe 
leofaS  and  rixaS  a  on  ecnysse.     Amen. 

Thorpe's  translation  is  as  follows  : — 

"  After  this  they  all  again  fell  before  the  emperor,  as  God  had  commanded, 
and  gave  up  their  ghosts.  Then  would  the  emperor  make  for  them  all  golden 
shrines,  but  they  appeared  to  him  on  the  same  night,  and  said,  '  From  earth  we 
arose,  let  us  rest  in  the  earth,  until  God  again  raise  us.'  Then  the  emperor 
and  his  bishops  raised  a  great  church  over  their  bodies,  to  tlie  praise  of 
Almighty  God,  who  liveth  and  reigneth  ever  to  eternity.     Amen." 

The  legend  of  the  Seven  Sleepers  is  told  by  Barbour.  See  Barbour's 
Legendensammlung,  ed.  C.  Horstmann,  1881,  vol.  i.  p.  203.  Dr.  Horetmann 
quotes  copiously  from  the  Latin  text  in  the  Legenda  Aurea. 

Note  to  p.  500, 1.  203.  The  Legenda  Aurea  says  the  cave  was  in  Mount 
Celion.  I  can  only  find  mention  of  two  hills  at  Epiiesus,  named  Prion  and 
Coressus.  Whether  the  writer  of  the  Latin  legend  knew  of  a  Mount  Celion  at 
Ephesus,  or  whether  he  was  thinking  of  the  Celian  hill  at  Rome,  I  cannot  say. 

It  is  curious  that  the  writer  never  thought  of  the  philological  difficulty 
involved  in  the  stoiy;  for  he  assumes  that  Malchus  was  readily  understood, 
i.  e.  that  the  language  of  the  Ephesians  suffered  no  change  during  nearly  four 
centuries. 

END  OF  VOLUME  I, 


ERKATA. 

p.  26,  1.  34.     For  6iread  of. 
P.  163,  foot-note.     Read  See  lines  264,  348,  353. 
P.  194,  Horn,  VIII,  1.  1.     For  geicged  read  geciged. 
P.  218,  foot-notes.     For  *U.  menn.  read  ^U.  menn. 
P.  232,  last  foot-note.    For  'B.  read  "B. 
P.  243,  foot-note.     For  gaderod  read  gcederod. 
P.  246,  foot-note  2.     For  looks  like  ei,  read  looks  like  ie. 
P.  250, 1.  206.    For  martyru  read  martyrum. 
P.  269,  note  to  1.  III.     Insert  a  stop  after  E. 
P.  282,  Horn.  XIII,  1.  5.    i^or  feohtend  read  feohtende. 
P.  294,  1.  157.    For  beho'da  read  bebo'da. 
P.  345,  foot-note  to  1.  1 14.     Read  U.  ge-eaSmette. 
P.  368,  title  to  1.  67.     The  last  letter  (S)  is  reversed. 

P.  381,  foot-note  to  1.  247.     For  thrice  read  twice;    and  for  twice  read 
thrice. 


D 


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